I'HIBRARY OF CONGRESS.! 






UNITED STATES OP AMERICA. 



THE MOKAVIANS IN JAMAICA. 



HISTORY 



OE THE inSSION OF THE 



UNITED BRETHKEN'S CHURCH 

TO THE XEGEOES IN THE ISLAiND OF JAMAICA, 

FEOM THE TE4.E 1754 TO 18 5 4. 
f 

J. H. BUCHNER, 

MISSIONAKY IN JAMAICA FOR A PEEIOD OF FIFTEEN YEARS. 



' GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD, AND PREACH THE GOSPEL 
TO EVEEY CEEATURE." 



LOjS'DON : 

LONGMAN, BROWN, & Co., 39, PATERNOSTEK ROW. 
1854, 






'^ ^ 



DEDICATION. 

To the Promoters and Supporters of the Mo- 
ravian Missions. 

Honoured and much beloved Brethren and 
Friends in Jesus ; you have hitherto cheerfully 
and liberally answered the appeals made to you 
on behalf of the extensive Missions of the Breth- 
ren's Church. You have enabled a small body 
of Christians who desire to devote all their 
energies to the preaching of the gospel, to send 
out a considerable number of labourers into the 
vineyard of the Lord. To you therefore the 
Church of the United Brethren owes a debt of 
gratitude. Her congregations in heathen lands 
have to thank you, next to the Lord and their 
faithful teachers, for possessing the means of 
grace and the light of the gospel. To you, ho- 
noured and much beloved Brethren and Friends, 
the author desires to dedicate this History of the 
Moravians in Jamaica. With feelings of un- 
feigned gratitude and christian love, he prays 
that the blessing of the Lord may rest upon you 
at all times, and under all circumstances. 

In the best of bonds he remains, your brother 
in Christ, J. H. BUCHNER. 



PREFACE. 

The Church of the United Brethren, commonly 
called Moravians, is one of the smallest tribes of 
the Israel of God, and is but little known. Des- 
cended from those faithful witnesses who, in the 
countries of Moravia and Bohemiaj bore testi- 
mony to the truth as it is in Jesus, and sealed it 
with their blood, at a time when ignorance and 
superstition had well nigh succeeded in extin- 
guishing the light of the gospel, they, in common 
with the Waldenses, have the honour of being 
the most ancient of all the Protestant Churches r 
Animated with a holy zeal to make known the 
saving name of Jesus, their missionaries went 
forth and traversed many countries, within the 
short period often years after they had emigrated 
from their native land, to enjoy religious liberty. 
Of the numerous missions to the heathen, which 
at that time were undertaken by them, many 
have been successful, and continue to this day. 
The Moravians have numerous congregations of 
heathen converts in Greenland, Labrador, the 
Islands of the West Indies, Surinam, the Cape of 
Good Hope, and among the Indians in North 
America. It is by these missions they have at- 



IV. 



tracted the attention of other churches, and gain- 
ed their esteem and love. The Brethren's con- 
gregations not being sufficiently wealthy to raise 
the necessary means for the support of these Mis- 
sions, have been, and are to this day, liberally 
supported by christians of other denominations. 
In 1754, three Moravian missionaries arrived 
in the island of Jamaica to preach the gospel to 
the Negro slaves ; and the following Narrative con- 
tains the history of this Mission during the last 
hundred years. The author begs to state that 
what he has written, is published upon his own 
responsibility ; and that he has not been com- 
missioned or authorized by the authorities of the 
church. The facts stated are, to the best of his 
knowledge, strictly according to truth : for the 
opinions and sentiments expressed, tlie author 
alone is accountable. Being engaged as a mis- 
sionary of the Brethren's Church in this Island, 
during the last fifteen years, he has had ample 
opportunity of making himself acquainted with 
every department and station of this Mission ; 
and the centenary jubilee which takes place 
this year, incites him to record the principal 
events of the past, in the belief that the numerous 
friends and supporters of the United Brethren's 
Missions will take an interest in the work. 

J. H. BUCHNER. 

Fairfield, Mandevilhy P. 0. 
Jamaica, 1854. 



liS^TEODTJCTION. 



AEEITAL OF THE AriHOE IX JA:y:AICA COir:y:OX EEROES EELI* 

GIOTJS AXD IIOEAL STATE OF THE ISLAXD EE:\IAEE:S OX THE 

COUXTEY CLIZSIATE FETEES liTPEOTED STATE OF HEALTH 

CAUSES STATISTICS DISEASES AZUiOXG THE XEGEOES IXCEEASE 

OF POPITLATIOX PATEOXAG-E OF PEOPEIETOES OF ESTATES 

SLATE RT. 

It was on the 6t]i of February, 1839, that the vessel in which 
I had crossed the Atlantic, cast anchor in the harbour of Black 
Eiver, on the south coast of Jamaica. Ve had been sailing 
all day along the coast, and I had admired two mountain 
ranges, which, at an elevation of about 2000 feet, run almost 
parallel with each other, leaving a valley of from five to ten 
miles in width between them. The captain pointed out to 
me, almost on the top of one of these mountains, Fairfield, 
the place of my destination. As the evening closed in, a cold 
damp breeze sprang up, and the clouds hung over the moun- 
tains, deep down iuto the valley ; it was cold and chilly, and 
I found the warmth of an over- coat quite grateful. The next 
morning we landed. 

Elack Eiver is a small seaport of perhaps two thousand 
inhabitants. The characteristics of this, as well as of all the 
towns and villages here, are disorder, filth, and an air of neg- 
ligence and wretchedness. The houses are nearly all built of 
wood, many with broken windows, doors and gates, with only 
here and there a more decent habitation. Brother Davis 



'6 

from Kew Fulnec, soon arrived to welcome us, and after a 
diive of an hour and a half, we reached the first mission 
station, jN'ew Fulnec, situated on a hill about 300 feet high, 
afiording a pretty view of the valley, where an estate with 
its canefields and sugar works enlivens the landscape. The 
&rst sight of a mission station far surpassed my expectation ; 
the dwelling-house and the church built of stone, and the 
school-house forming a square, looked neat and pretty, and 
imparted a feeling of home and comfort. The following sab- 
bath day, I twice addressed a large Negro audience, who 
formed the congregation. I was astonished at the number 
that came riding on horseback, and counted above forty 
horses ; I was also much pleased with the appearance of the 
congregation. They were all well dressed, and behaved as 
quietly and orderly as could be expected. The rows of black 
countenances were very striking ; they all appeared alike to 
me. I could not distinguish one from the other ; it was se- 
veral weeks before I discovered that there is as much diversity 
of expression in the countenances of the blacks as in those of 
the whites. 

Eor various reasons, I could not go at once to Pairfield, the 
place where I was to be stationed, and therefore travelled for 
some weeks, accompanied by my wife, through our several con- 
gregations, and had an opportunity at all these places, of ad- 
dressing and telling them of the love of our brethren and sisters 
at home. The impression made upon my mind was most fa- 
vourable, and surpassed all my expectations ; I felt cheered and 
enthusiastic. Here was a wide field open, with abundant 
room for the exercise of every talent ; here were the fruits 
of the labour of those who had been before me, in large con- 
gregations numbering thousands ; I found everything much 
more advanced than I had been led to believe ; well-ordered 
stations, organized churches, the machinery all selected and 



trained, and everywhere a life, a zeal, an interest quite new 
and startling to me. It was tlie first year of complete eman- 
cipation, when a new state of things was in course of forma- 
tion, when the people looked up to the missionaries as their 
protectors and advisers in everything, and gladly and willing- 
ly submitted themselves to their direction. It is not to be 
wondered at, that the reports of missionaries of all the differ- 
ent denominations gave very glowing and enthusiastic des- 
criptions of the hopeful state of their congregations at that 
time. Eifteen years have elapsed since then ; I have been 
labouring in five different congregations, and have had 
ample opportunities to make experiences of various kinds ; 
I may therefore now speak with more certainty, and be 
more likely to discern the truth, than at that time. 

There is an error ^ not uncommon even among the well- 
informed, which requires correction. Sometimes, when at 
home, I had an opportunity of seeing the riches of a tropi- 
cal land displayed, and formed to myself a picture of its 
splendour, its balmy air, its continual spring, its glowing 
colours, its delightful shores, strewn in profusion with the 
treasures of the deep, its rich vegetation, its delicious fruits, 
its wonderful animal creation, from the tiny humming-bird to 
the large fiamingo, which made me long to see and enjoy 
its beauty. Often, when reading the reports of missionaries, 
have I thought with delight of telling an ignorant multitude the 
wonderful gospel story of a Saviour's love, and pictured to my- 
self the astonishment, the joy and pleasure they would evince, 
the eagerness with which they would enquire : ^^ What must 
I. do to be saved !'^ and the triumphs of the gospel in convert- 
ing sinners and building up believers on their most holy faith. 
These are the imaginations of the young ; they are shared even 
by young candidates for the mission service, whose imagina- 
tion clothes missionary labours in a romantic dress, and whose 



8 

desires to serve in the mission are thus strengthened, but not 
by the spirit of God. They come and see, and their vision de- 
parts as a dream of the night; then only it vrill be seen what 
spirit is in them, whether the root of the matter, the founda- 
tion, was good, upon which they built thfir stubble and hay, 
or whether ignorance and an excited imagination urged them 
to the missionary enterprise. Instead of the balmy air, there 
is the scorching heat, fraught with disease and death, op- 
pressing the spirit and drying up the fountains of mirth and 
cheerfulness. The very evenness of the seasons without 
change is fatiguing; tropical riches must be sought after 
carefully, and are not in profusion on every hand ; and the 
briUiant plumage of a single bird does not indemnify for the so- 
litary stillness of nature, where the song of the many is 
never heard. As for man, and his eagerness to hear and do 
the will of God ; who ever heard or read thus of depraved 
human nature, wliich, as scripture tells us, ^' is enmity 
against God ?" Who would not much rather expect that they 
who have grown up in unchecked lust and passion, would be 
hardened in sin, and deaf to the voice of the charmer ? It is 
God's Holy Spirit, a power from above, that is required to 
make men love and obey the Saviour. Our testimony, weak 
and feeble, or ever so energetic, if unaided by the grace of God, 
leaves no furtlier impression than the wave upon the sea-shore 
sand. IVIuch rather might they to whom we are sent, ex- 
pect to hear that all in Christian lands are followers of the 
Lord in word and deed; and, truly they do think it is so. 
Our people here would be much astonished to hear of unbe- 
lieving, unrenewed members of our congregations at home. 
"Well I remember, with what simplicity I heard some con- 
verted jSTegroes conversing on the subject : ^^ We grow up in 
sin, but they are taught to love the Lord from their youth up, 
and how delightful it must be to see them all children of God." 



9 

The mission in Jamaica is, in the present day, the most 
numerous of all our missions, numbering 13 stations and 45 
schools, with a population amounting to 13,000 in connexion 
with the church. This is a large number, and contrasts 
strongly with our congregations at home. It is only during the 
last 30 years that so many have been gathered into the fold, 
though the mission was begun one hundred years ago. Tor a 
long time the labours of the Brethren were comparatively un- 
fruitful, numbering only a few attendants on the ministry. In 
1809, Er. Lang still writes : ^^0 Jamaica, Jamaica ! dead as 
a flint, yea hard as an adamant, unfeeling to all that comes 
of and from God ! Dost thou think the Omnipotent will 
change his laws for thy corrupted customs' sake !" This tes- 
timony was in truth. Up to the year 1800, when other 
missionaries joined the Brethren, and their united efforts 
gradually began to make an impression, with the exception of 
a very few poor Kegroes under instruction, the whole popula- 
tion, white and black, appear to have been sunk in ungodli- 
ness, knowing no other god than llammon, and the lusts of 
the flesh. Though there were a few churches, they were not 
often opened, even on the Sabbath day, and six or ten persons 
might perhaps be found in them, when well attended. The 
white inhabitants of the island, fifty years ago, were much 
more numerous than at present, but sunk in profligacy and 
drunkenness ; and as regards the N"egToes, they were like the 
beasts of the field ; indeed masters and slaves stood, in their 
moral and religious character, very much on a level. When we 
compare their present moral and religious state with what 
it was formerly, we see that there has been indeed a won- 
derful, an astonishing change ; we forget then all the defi- 
ciencies stin remaining, and speak confidently of the wonders 
wrought amongst them by means of the power and influence 
of the blessed gospel. It is good for us sometimes to 



10 

remember past mercies, and compare the former times with the 
present, to understand and know what great things have been 
effected. The tree grows but slowly ; from one day, from one 
week to the other, no growth is perceptible, and we might 
suppose there had been no change ; but it is not so from 
year to year, the difference in size cannot then be mistaken. 
So likewise in our mission labours ; when we look back after 
a number of years, we are astonished at the progress which 
has been made, though at the time it might appear to superfi- 
cial observers as if little was being done. "We believe all who 
know anything of the history of the mission in Jamaica will 
confess that it holds forth much encouragement to its friends 
and supporters to persevere, and not faint in prosecuting their 
labours. This will become still clearer as we proceed with 
our narrative. 

Jamaica may certainly be called a beautiful, and even a 
splendid island. There is but little level land. The descrip- 
tion which Columbus is said to have given of it, when, in 
answer to enquiries, he took a sheet of paper, and crushing it 
in his hand, laid it on the table, is not improper. Mountain 
ranges traverse the land in every direction, rising in those 
parts where our mission stations are situated to the height of 
2000 feet above the level of the sea, while in the East of the 
island, they are from 6000 to 8000 feet high. Innumerable 
conical hills of less height stud the country. The land is 
fruitful, in some, parts very rich, the vegetation wonderfully 
quick; besides all the tropical fruits found in abundance, 
most, if not all, the European vegetables may be cultivated in 
the higher mountains with advantage. Jamaica means ^^ the 
land of springs,'' having more springs and rivers than any 
other of the "West-India Islands; The northern and eastern 
parts of the island abound in them, but in the western part, 
where our stations lie, there are but few springs and rivers : 



11 

there we have to depend upon the rain, which is collected in 
cisterns, for our supply of water ; this is much purer and of 
a better taste than even the spring water. In long droughts, 
which frequently occur, when the supply fails, great distress 
and suffering are occasioned thereby. The land is rich in 
limestone, which rises in immense rocks and sometimes in 
curious formations, showing the action of water upon it. Sea 
shells, some of them unknown in the present day, are found 
everywhere embedded in the rocks, and many feet deep in 
the soil, proving that this island must have risen out of the 
sea, or have been once overflowed with water. "Within the last 
years rich copper mines have been discovered. Caverns abound 
throughout the island ; these are certainly ordered by a wise 
Providence to absorb the heavy rains, and give vent for the 
gaseous vapoui^s, which frequently occasion earthquakes, to 
escape from the bowels of the earth. Jamaica is much less 
exposed to earthquakes than the "Windward Islands. On 
the 7th of June, 1792, nearly the whole of Port-E-oyal, at 
that time the depot of all the riches of the West, was entirely 
destroyed and sunk into the sea. Since that time no serious 
earthquake has taken place, though shocks of less or more 
violence are frequently felt. 

The climate is varied. In the Lowlands the heat is at 
times almost intolerable, on account of the absence of the sea- 
breeze, and consequently, the inland parts of Jamaica are more 
unhealthy than the smaller islands. The thermometer fre- 
quently rises to 95, and varies generally from 75 to 90 degrees. 
At an elevation of some thousand feet, the climate is delight- 
fully cool and healthy, and fevers rarely occur : here the ther- 
mometer averages at from 65 to 75 degrees, and in January it 
sometimes sinks as low as 48 degrees Fahrenheit. The sea- 
sons have, as the old inhabitants assert, not been as regular 
for the last twentyyears as formerly, and less rain has fallen. 



12 

The disease to wliich Europeans are so much subject, is a 
hilious remittent or yellow fever, which frequently proves 
fatal. During my residence in the island I have been four 
times attacked by this sickness, and every time was brought 
to the verge of the grave, and not expected to live. And even 
after the crisis had passed, it was always two or three months 
before I felt my strength restored. The disease begins with 
head-ache, pain, giddiness, retching, and fever ; delirium and 
an entire prostration of strength follow. After labouring 
for a week under this disease, and after a night spent in wild 
delirium, I found myself sitting in an arm-chair, conscious of 
my existence, but memory, all recollection, and all knowledge 
had faded away. Por hours I sat looking upon the objects 
around me like a new-born babe, wondering at every thing I 
saw, being unconscious of my own name, or office, or any 
thing, except that I was alive. Suddenly my recollection 
returned, and at the same time a feeling and consciousness 
that I was dying. I felt death, as it were overshadowing, 
creeping slowly over me. ^^ I am dying," I lisped, with that 
utter indifference which is characteristic of the disease, and 
resigned myself to my fate. By strong stimulants, and a 
continual rubbing of the whole body for an hour, I was re- 
called to life, fell into a deep sleep for several hours, and 
awoke saying ^^I shall yet live." Without passing through 
such a trial, it is not less afflicting to endure the daily ener- 
vating influence of a tropical sun in the Lowlands. "Without 
any exertion, without moving, the perspiration is profuse ; 
languor, lassitude, inability and disinclination for mental 
exertion comes over the whole system, and the individual 
feels his spirit, and strength, failing him ; he ceases to 
live, and only vegetates. Four of our stations in Jamaica 
are situated in the Lowlands, the other nine are in the 
mountains, in a salubrious, and for some months of the year. 



13 

invigorating air. Those brethren stationed in the Lowlands 
are therefore called to a mountain residence when their 
strength fails, while those from the mountains for a time supply 
their places. "We are in this respect particularly favoured 
here, and have a great advantage over our brethren in the 
Windward Islands. During the last ten years there has been 
less sickness, and death has not been so frequent among the 
missionaries in the "West Indies as in former years. Though 
no remedy has been discovered to prevent or cure tropical 
fevers, I think this may be chiefly attributed to a different 
mode of living. Formerly it was thought indispensably ne- 
cessary, and generally advised, to use spiritous liquors, and not 
even a glass of pure water was permitted — it must be converted 
into grog. This absuixl and dangerous belief has providen- 
tially been exploded, and experience has proved, that intoxi- 
cating drink in the AYest Indies is not only unnecessary but 
absolutely injurious to health. In consequence, our mission- 
aries are not only temperate, but most of them abstain entirely 
from all alcoholic di^ink. The use of cold-water bathing, 
which is very general, is not only invigorating, but promotes 
free perspiration ; and a change of diet, substituting fresh 
meat for salt meat, may likewise have much contributed to 
preserve health and life. There are very few Europeans able 
to endure the heat without being subject to fever, most of 
them have to pass through a season of sickness by which 
they are acclimatised. The animal heat of the body is in all 
northern nations of higher temperatare, and this climatisation 
consists simply in reducing the animal heat of the body. Some 
assert that a vegetable diet only, would effect this, and there 
is certainly much in the nature of the climate to support the 
opinion. 

There is no mission-field where disease and death have been 
so active as in the West Indies. A reference to our resristries 



14 

proves this, and the preservation of health and life is a subject 
well worthy, in every way, the serious attention of the sup- 
porters of the mission. Since the commencement of the mis- 
sion in Jamaica in 1754, sixty-four brethren and sisters have 
been buried here, and how short has been the time of their 
service ! 

The following statement will show the length of service of 
the 64 Missionaries who have departed this life ia Jamaica. 



2 were drowned by accident. 

6 died within one year. 
10 served only one year. 

7 served for two years. 

7 three years. 

8 four years. 

5 ........ five years. 

2 six years. 

3 ........ seven vears. 



3 served for eight years. 

2 nine years. 

2 ten years. 

1 eleven years. 

2 twelve years. 

1 thirteen years. 

1 fourteen years. 

1 fifteen years. 

1 nineteen vears. 



Of the 64 brethren and sisters who died in the service of 
the Jamaica Mission, there was only one who lived to endure 
the severity of that service for nineteen years ! 

Since the commencement of the mission, 193 brethren and 
sisters have been engaged in the work — 64 died in the island, 
98 have returned home, or were called to laboui^ in other 
islands, and 31 are now engaged in the service here. 

Of all these 193 brethren and sisters, one brother served 
in the West Indies for a term of 30 years, two for 28, and 
three for 25 ; the time of all the others was much shorter. 

Of the 31 missionaries at present employed in the service, 
two have been engaged for 22 years, two for 17, two for 
16, four for 11, one for 10 years, and the remaining 20 for 
a still shorter period. 

When we compare these statistics, we find the average time 
of service of a missionarv in Jamaica to have been formerly 



15 

less than ^ye years, while at the present time it is nearly 
nine. This fully bears out our statement that the mortality 
among missionaries in the present day is far less than formerly. 
The coloured and black people of this island . are likewise 
subject to fever, but very few die of it. A medical au- 
thor of some celebrity here states, that in a practice of 
twenty years, he has known only two black men to die of the 
yellow fever. Many amongst them attain to a very high 
age ; I myself have known several, who though they could 
not state the year of their birth, were unquestionably above 
100 years of age. On the other hand, there are several most 
loathsome diseases peculiar to the Is'egro race, to which the 
white man is not subject, as the Taws, the Cosobay, and 
others ; but they are in general only fatal after many years 
suffering. The cause of death among them is most frequently 
old age, consumption, and dropsy. Dysentery, as an epidemic, 
frequently carries away many, and fearful were the ravages 
of the Cholera amongst them in 1850 and 1851. During the 
last year, numbers were likewise swept away by the small 
pox. But on the whole, the mortality among the natives is 
very moderate ; and our church registers of births and deaths 
show that the population is increasing rapidly, as the number 
of births is one-third more than the number of deaths. There 
is abundant room for a growing population ; Jamaica is as 
yet very thinly inhabited, counting but sixty persons upon 
every square mile, which gives ten acres to every individual. 
In the centre of the island there is still an unbroken forest of 
30 miles in length by 20 in breadth, untrodden by the foot of 
man, except the hunter who seeks for wild hogs, which have 
roamed at large since the time when they were first introduced 
by the Spaniards, llonkeys or other wild animals are not 
found in these forests : even of the parrot-tribe, only the two 
smaller green parrots are to be found. Besides a vai'iety of 



16 

pigeonS; some smaller birds, and some snakes, of Tvhieli none 

are poisonous, the lai^gest measuring nine feet ; no other ani- 
mals are there to enliven the solitude. 

These few statements, which have more or less reference to 
the mission and the well-being of those engaged in it, may be 
useful to those who shall yet enter the mission service in the 
West Indies, and perhaps not without interest to those who sup- 
port the laboui's of the Lord's servants in this part of the world. 

The time of slavery in these islands has happily passed 
away, and we may now speak with more freedom of the par- 
ties concerned in it, than would have been expedient and 
prudent in former days. There were among the proprietors 
but few, who, in the midst of the wealth and splendour which 
surrounded them, wrung from the sweat and blood of their 
unfortunate slaves, remembered them and their wants and 
grievances ; few who would return to them a pittance of their 
earnings, by employing a missionary to speak to them of their 
souls' salvation. Those few deserve to be honoured ; they 
form an exception. However, I am not inclined to say much 
on this subject: it is only by comparing the few excep- 
tions, with those who were still more selfish, that we can 
discover anything particularly laudable in their conduct. 
If when conscience told them all was not right, and they 
sent a missionary in the hope of saving the soul of the slave, 
while his body was given to destruction, and spent one per 
cent of the unrighteous mammon as a balm to their wounded 
conscience, there was nothing very praiseworthy in it. Or 
if they believed that their slaves, being taught the will and 
commandment of the Lord, would become more submissive 
and obedient, would learn to serve theii^ master faithfully as 
if they served the Lord, and thus be more profitable, what is 
there to deserve commendation in this : Nevertheless, we 
must make allowance for the ignorance that prevailed formerly 



and not judge them harsKLy by the light which vre have at 
present. Slavery was no sin to them, at least they did not 
know and feel it as such ; and we believe the motive that in- 
duced many proprietors, especially one hundred years ago, to 
have their slaves instructed, was pure and deserving of praise. 
These good intentions were, however, in most cases, if not 
entirely frustrated, yet so much hindered, that scarcely the 
tenth part of the good they wished to effect could be realized. 
Their attorneys and overseers were the real masters, and 
threw obstacles in the way of the missionary, entirely out of 
his power to remove. In most instances, they put him to 
such annoyances, to such inconvenienee, scorn and ridicule, 
that it required on his part no small degree of humility, for- 
bearance, and self-denial. Complaints on his side were not 
only fruitless, but brought him into disgrace on every hand. 
There was nothing left for him but quiet submission-— to bear 
the cross, and commit his cause to him who judgeth righ- 
teously. And as to his standing, his authority and influence 
among the slaves, let any one, but for a moment, consider 
with what feelings they must have looked upon him, and 
what conceptions they must have formed. Here was a mis- 
sionary supported by the proprietor, as it were in his employ ; 
another officer added to the staff of agents on the plantation ; 
to him the overseer complained of the laziness and disobedi- 
ence of the slaves ; he was expected to reprove them, to tell 
them to obey and work diligently. For instance, let us ac- 
company the missionary to the sick-house ; the overseer 
would be with him, and, if possible, not allow him to speak 
to the sick out of his hearing ; there he would find many laid 
up with sores and various diseases ; all were accused by the 
overseer of feigning disease for the sake of escaping from la- 
bour, or wilfully irritating their sores, that they might con- 
tinue idle ; and the missionary, instead of being permitted to 



18 

speak a word of comfort and condolence, would be called upon 
to lecture them on tlie sin of deception and idleness. This is no 
imaginary tale, but taken from life. We enquire, AYhat impres- 
sion could a missionary make upon the minds of the slaves under 
such circumstances? Why, they looked upon him in no other 
light than that of a spiritual police officer, sent out to care for 
the interests of the proprietor. How difficult was it for him to 
convince these poor people, that he had come among them 
out of love to their souls — that he really loved them, wished 
to comfort them, and, if possible, to save their souls. This is 
the reason why our congregations on all those plantations 
where the missionary was under obligation, and in a great 
measui^e under the control of the proprietor, have been but 
small and insignificant in number, while the Xegroes flocked 
in crowds to attend the ministry of those missionaries who 
were themselves free agents. Among the Erethren, the 
choice lay, in most instances, between submitting quietly to 
these hindrances, and faithfully doing all the good in their 
power under such adverse circumstances, or being driven 
away without accomplishing any good. They therefore 
preferred the former, and hence their humility and self- 
denial deserve both our respect and admiration. The pro- 
prietors in England were entirely ignorant of the real state of 
things on their estates ; and though some of them, when in- 
formed, sent out orders to have the evil remedied ; these orders 
were, by their agents, easily frustrated and made of no avail. 
The proprietors themselves may have meant well ; and, as 
they continue to support the mission, even to this day, long 
after slavery has ceased to exist, they certainly have given 
evidence of their disinterestedness, and deserve our acknow- 
ledgments. May the Lord reward and bless them. 

It appears that the proprietors of those estates where the 
Brethren were first located, were aware of the hindrances 



19 

that would most probably be thrown in the way of the gospel, 
by their agents in the island; for in 1763 they sent out a 
Moravian Brother to act as attorney on their plantations. I 
am not informed whether this arrangement answered its end, 
but I doubt it much. It was hardly to be expected that it 
would. Where temporal and spiritual interests are in opposi- 
tion to one another, and one must suffer, it is not difficult to 
determine what decision poor sinful man will make. After 
the return of this brother to Europe, in 1780, no other was 
sent out to supply his place. 

"What has been stated is only another illustration of the curse 
of slavery. Of its attendant evils, sins, and debasing influence, 
much might stillbesaid. It is true I have never been an eye wit- 
ness of its actual existence ; but, coming here the year after li- 
berty had been proclaimed to the captive, I have heard and seen 
enough of its consequences to convince me that it is impossible 
to overrate them ; so that I have learned to hate the whole system 
of slavery from my very heart. The absentee proprietor, if an 
honourable man, might send out instructions to have his slaves 
well treated, and properly provided for, and would take credit 
to himself for having done all he could, believing, no doubt, 
that his intentions would be faithfully carried out ; mean- 
while, his agents here did as they pleased — and who was 
to hinder them ? who would venture to complain ? It is 
not possible to speak in too strong language of the utter con- 
tempt with which the actual slave master looked upon his 
slaves ! If we say that he regarded them as beasts and chat- 
tels, it is doubtful whether we do not take too favourable a 
view of his conduct ; for there was frequently a harshness 
and cruelty exercised towards the slaves, which was not 
shown to dumb animals. And even those whose naturally 
kind disposition did not allow them to iUtreat the slave, 
nevertheless despised him from their very heart. The slave 



20 

^as to them their beast of burden, tbe tool of their lust, and 
sometimes their plaything. Under such a system, let any one 
but reflect for a moment, on the character which will be de- 
veloped in the person of the poor slave. "Wliat is it that 
makes man a 7nan ? We reply, a consciousness of his respon- 
sibiKty to God and man, producing in him a feeling of self- 
respect. But what responsibility to his Creator — to his God, 
can a slave feel, when he, in innumerable instances, is forced 
to do what his conscience tells him is sin ? "What self-respect 
can a slave have, when he finds himself the tool of another 
man's will r He knows nothing of those feelings whicli alone 
can make a man to be a man I He becomes an intel- 
ligent being without character ; his only aim is self-preserva- 
tion; selfishness becomes the personification of his being. 
From his youth up, the slave is tutored in deception, and all 
means become alike lawful to him for the attainment of his 
object. This is the legitimate consequence of slavery in the 
person of the slave ! What a systematic effort :s this to 
efface and destroy every trace that may still be left of the 
divine image in man ! What a slow, systematic murder of all 
intelligence and character ! And how cruel and unjust, after 
having made the slave what he is, to turn round and charge 
his depravity upon himself, as if this were his real character ! 
It is true there are instances, and perhaps not a few, in which 
even under such a system of evil, a man has proved his in- 
tegrity. There are, in the history of the slaves, many instan- 
ces of virtuous and noble actions ; there are very many proofs 
that faith in Him who ^^ took upon him the form of a servant" 
for our sakes, and ^^ tasted death for every man," has enabled 
them to withstand the crushing effects of slavery, but they 
are exceptions, — they excite our wonder and admiration, 
but they do not in any way mitigate or excuse the evil. 

Slavery, as a curse, settles alike upon the slave and his 



21 

master. And, alas I there are few men that can live in the 
gloom of sin, and not have their eyes blinded ; few men that 
can behold sin, be surrounded with it, breathe its tainted air, 
become familiarized with it, and yet be kept unpolluted. 
However revolting it may be at first sight to the feelings of 
a man, especially a christian, yet gradually his feelings 
become blunted, the emotions of his heart weaker, and at 
last, even the consciousness of sin being lost, he becomes 
an accomplice — a partaker of the evil. Alas!, alas! that it 
should have been so with our missionaries ! Certainly we 
should wrong them if v/e were to judge them by the standard 
and opinion of the present day. One hundred years ago, or 
even v/ithin fifty years, many, even good and christian men, 
could not see slavery in the light in which we see it — their 
vision was beclouded, so that they could not see in it the 
sin and evil of v/hich we complain; they might see and 
mourn over the evil consequences, but the thing itself was 
still, in their opinion, an ordinance of the Lord, who maketh 
the rich and poor, and ordaineth to every man his station. 
Still, all this does not alter the thing itself, and we, in our 
day, regret it exceedingly, much more than we can express, 
that ever our missionaries became slave-holders. The first 
instance of this occurred in St. Thomas, and the occasion is 
worthy of notice, and should be remembered. It was about 
the year 1740, that one of the Brethren, stationed by him- 
self, was taken ill with fever, and was left without any one 
as a nurse, to attend upon him. "When in this pitiable and 
forsaken state, the congregation, slaves themselves, collected 
money and purchased a slave, whom they presented to their 
minister to attend upon him in his forlorn situation. This 
was the first slave possessed by a !M!oravian missionary. 
They could not procure free servants, and having become fa- 
miliarized with slavery, they were thus led to purchase and 



22 

hold slaves as servants. About this time, the missionaries in 
Jamaica generally lived in a house, which was placed at their 
disposal by the proprietor, on the plantations where they la- 
boured. Some time after the above circumstances, with the 
sanction of the directing board in Europe, they purchased a 
small estate, and supported themselves in their missionary 
work, by the labour of from thirty to forty slaves. "We con- 
fess this for the sake of truth ; but we grieve over it, and 
believe that the Lord winlced at those times of ignorance. 
(See Acts xvii. 30.) Can it be wondered at that these slaves 
would not attend the ministry of their masters, the mission- 
aries ? Very few could be persuaded at any time, of their own 
freewill, to attend the meetings ; the generality would only 
come when they were commanded. Here is an extract of 
their diary, as late as February 9th, 1809 : ^' "We have ven- 
tured, in the name of the Lord, to command our ^^egroes to 
attend the meetings ; for a period of four years, not more than 
four or five would attend, and we think we have a right to 
command them to come in." Eut let us not condemn these 
Erethren as unfeeling men, who followed their calling as a 
profession, without life and spirit. Their diaries abound 
with prayers expressive of an earnest and longing desire for 
the salvation of the slaves, and a spirituality of mind which 
might well put us to shame. To the above extract from their 
diary they add : ^'Eut what are all regulations and good 
intentions, except ratified, and approved, and blessed, and 
sprinkled, and watered from above by the Father of mer- 
cies in the Eeloved ? — ^ A sounding brass — a tinkling cym- 
bal r '^ So strangely are light and darkness, spirituality and 
ignorance, sometimes mingled together in man ! The Judge 
of all the earth — He that knoweth the secrets of the hearts of 
men, he alone is able to judge in righteousness. 

It is a considerable time since the establishment of the 



23 

mission at Old Carmel was entirely broken up, the place sold, 
and the remaining slaves liberated. The name of the Breth- 
ren's Church stands now cleared of the evil of slavery ; and 
confessing our past sin as a sin of ignorance, we believe the 
Lord has pardoned our transgression, and feel comforted by 
the fact that we have abandoned it for ever. 



CHAPTEE I. 

1754 TO 1S09. 

AEEIVAL OP THE FIEST IIISSIOIS'AEIES THE FIEST MISSION STA- 

TIO:j;r MISSIONAEY LABOdRS SUCCESS is^EGEO SUPEESTITIOjS'S 

BAPTISM STEEIs^GTH OF FAITH IIN"WILLIIs-GiS'ESS TO EECEIYE 

THE GOSPEL Olf OUE PLAIs^TATIOX MOEE MISSIOITAEIES AEEIVE 

DIFFEEEXCE OF OPEN-IOX COXCEENING BAPTISM ITS INFLU- 
ENCE UPON THE MISSION EEYIVAL OLD CAEMEL LABOUES 

OF THE MISSIONAEIES AT THAT PLACE. 

In the parish of St. Elizabeth are situated several sugar 
estates, Elini, Lancaster, T^^o-mile-wood, and the Bogue, the 
property of the Eoster and Earhani families, names Tvell 
known in our church and mission. A hundred years ago, the 
proprietors of these plantations applied to the United Ereth- 
ren for missionaries to preach the gospel to their slaves. The 
Brethren, ever ready to listen to such an application, complied 
with their request, and on the seventh of December, 1754, 
the Brethren Zecharias Caries, Thomas Shallcross, and Got- 
lieb Haberecht arrived in Jamaica. The Bogue Estate, on 
which the Brethren were located, and the other estates above 
named, are situated in a most unhealthy locality at the foot 
of the Manchester mountains, too far inland to admit the 
burning and intolerable heat to be mitigated by the sea-breeze. 
The land is very rich and productive, the sugar-cane thrives 
remarkably well, and the Black river, navigable for large 
boats, offers every accommodation for shipping. Altogether, 



25 

this part of the country possesses so many advantages, that we 
need not be surprized to hear, that no fewer than nine hundred 
slaves belonged to these plantations ; and that the produce of 
their labour was a rich mine of wealth. 

The house inhabited by the missionaries, of which the foun- 
dation wall only remains, stood on a little eminence and close 
by the wretched huts of the ^"egro slaves, in the midst of a 
plantation of the beautiful cocoa-nut palm, and formed a large 
village. Every morning, with the first dawn of day, the shell 
was blown to call the slaves to their work, and every one was 
expected to appear immediately and join his party ; each 
gang of Xegroes walked off to the field under the direction of 
the driver, likewise a I^egro, armed with a long whip. The 
children, from six to twelve years of age, under the care of an 
elderly JN'egress, likewise armed with a rod, formed another 
gang, and proceeded to clean the pasture, or any other work 
suited to their strength. These jS'egro drivers were steeled 
against all pity and compassion, being generally as much bru- 
talized as man could be. The gangs went to work and 
toiled all day in the sun, their only covering being a cloth 
tied round their loins. In digging cane-holes they were ex- 
pected to keep the line, and any one not keeping it with the 
rest felt the driver's whip. There was no remission of work, 
except in the middle of the day to take their meals. Late in 
the evening, after the setting of the sun, they returned weak 
and faint, and, not unfrequently, were forced, for hours 
together, to continue their labour by the light of the moon. 
And then, their work having been examined by the overseer, 
those with whom he was dissatisfied, whether man or woman, 
were ordered to be fiogged. They v\'ere laid on the ground, 
and before the whip had descended the third time, were cover- 
ed with blood. I am informed by a missionary, who resided 
in this locality, that not an evening passed without his hear- 



26 

ing the crack of the whip and the shrieks of the victims. Aged 
and weak persons would fi^equently rnn in despair to the mis- 
sionary's house, fall upon their knees before him, and with 
uplifted hands, beg him to have pity and intercede for them. 
But what could he do ? He was as much despised as the 
slaves. He would write a line to the overseer, begging him 
to have mercy ; and sometimes, but not frequently, his inter- 
cession prevailed, to save the poor creature. Day after day 
the same toil, the same scenes continued, until Sunday, when 
the slaves went to the market to bring home a supply for the 
week, or to their provision grounds, to labour for their own 
support. 

"When, or at what time, could a missionary labour among 
these people ? One or two hours during the week were allow- 
ed to the slaves to attend his ministry, and when they had 
returned home at night he might be seen making his way 
through their houses, sitting down with them by the fire while 
they cooked their evening meal, conversing with and teaching 
them. On Sunday he preached in the afternoon to those who 
were really desirous of being instructed. During the night 
they worked in their provision grounds, in order to gain an 
hour in the day to attend the meeting. This sad picture is 
not overdrawn, it is literally true. May we not ask, if the 
life of a missionary, under such circumstances, might not be 
called a continual martyrdom ? Like Lot in Sodom, he might 
vex his righteous soul from day to day, his eyes might be 
rivers of water, but there was no change ; the heavens ap- 
peared as brass, and the hearts of the poor Xegroes as the 
nether millstone. Well may we enquire. How could a man 
with sensitive feelings, with a heart full of love, endure this ? 
Would he not in some measure resemble the Lord Jesus 
Christ, when he was among a rebellious people, and endured 
the contradiction of sinners against himself ? Nothing but 



27 

the remembrance of his bright and glorious example could 
enable the faithful missionary to persevere in his labours. 
And Tvith regard to the Xegroes^ who could expect them, 
worn out and wearied with toil^ to have ears to hear the gos- 
pel and hearts to feel its power ? And yet their very misery 
constrained them to listen. Here was a man, a white man, 
who was not too proud to enter their huts and sit down by 
their fire-side \ how strange ! this appeared to them unaccoun- 
table I He came to them as a friend ; he sjDoke to them of 
love ! Vhat did they know of love ? "Who loved them : They 
heard of the pity and compassion of a Saviour — how he died 
out of love for them ! They heard of heaven, of rest, of hap- 
piness ! What strange words to them ! "Wlien peace and 
prosperity smile upon uS; we are too prone to forget God, and 
become worldly-minded ; when we are in affliction, and ad- 
versities crowd around us, we are too prone to rebel, to mur- 
mur and despair ; but when we are in the depth of misery, 
when even hope has left us, when no change is thought of, 
when the heart is thoroughly crushed and humbled, then we 
listen, then we turn an attentive ear to any distant sound of 
help and deliverance. So experience taught the missionaries 
at that time, and the same experience is made by them unto 
this day. However the slaves were not always dejected. It 
was the master's interest to make them feel merry and happy ; 
they often drank and danced ; but times of distress and afflic- 
tion, especially when labouring under their master's displea- 
sure, were but too common. 

The missionaries entered upon their labours with a zeal and 
a love for souls which nothing could subdue, and the Lord ac- 
companied their testimony in preaching the gospel with the 
demonstration and power of the Spiiit. Within the first year 
not less than 26 Negro slaves were baptized ; and at the close 
of the second year, the congregation of christian slaves con- 



28 

sistecL of 77 baptized members and 400 catechumens, under 
instruction for holy baptism. We know that our Brethren, 
at that time, did not go to convert the ^N'egroes to a mere 
nominal Christianity; they were not satisfied with a mere 
formal confession of faith. They had no faith in what is 
called baptismal regeneration; they required evidence of a 
true faith, a renewed heart, before they would admit a per- 
son to baptism, as the sign of remission of sins. It is 
trnly astonishing what blessings followed the labours of our 
first missionaries every where. They were faithful in sowing, 
planting, and watering, and God gave the increase. Their 
love to the souls intrusted to their care was so fervent, that 
appearances could not prejudice the slaves against them ; 
they fiocked in crowds to hear them, and their stated atten- 
dance was not less than 800 hearers. So much did the word 
prevail that the attention even of the white people was arres- 
ted, their enmity was overcome, and they requested that the 
gospel might be preached to them likewise. Many attended 
the meetings for preaching to the slaves, some no doubt to ridi- 
cule and find fault, but they were found of him whom they did 
not seek, and were converted from enemies into friends. The 
missionaries therefore began to preach on the sabbath-days to 
overseers and bookkeepers, who assembled in .the morning, 
and to the J^egroes in the afternoon. Thus a most hopeful 
beginning was made ; the mustard seed was sown, and pro- 
mised to grow up a large tree. 

The following extract from the diary of Br. Zecharias Ca- 
ries, while it shows the character and zeal of this faithful ser- 
vant of God, illustrates likewise the influence he had gained 
over the slaves and their masters, and the confidence which he 
enjoyed. He writes, ^^ January 1756, I rose, after a severe 
attack of fever, and kept the evening meeting, but the fever 
returned with such force, that Mr. Eobinson, a neighbouring 



29 

planter, told me I was in danger. I knew better. To be with 
the Lord was certainly preferable, but as there are no other 
Brethren here, I have agreed with my Saviour not to leave these 
poor JS'egroes at present. The doctor was called to bleed me. 
llr.- Heath likewise called to comfort me, but I told him how 
our Saviour's anguish, pain, and death had comforted me ; 
that I felt happy and content, and would gladly go home to 
my Saviour, if it were not for the work which I had to do for 
him here. I took the opportunity to preach the gospel to 
him, and he thanked me with tears in his eyes. 

*' About twenty little l^egro children kneeled round my bed, 
and prayed that the Saviour would allow me to remain with 
them; the catechumens did the same, the room being four times 
filled by them ; and lastly came the baptized J^egroes to see me. 
I spoke to all of them of the suffering Saviour, of going to be 
with him, and of seeing the wounds in his hands, and feet, and 
side. The fever and headache increased, and against my will 
the doctor was recalled ; he and several others remained the 
v>^hole day ; they pitied me on account of the pain which I en- 
dured ; but I told them how our Saviours sufferings comforicd 
me. Several other gentlemen called. I believe the Lord has 
sent me this sickness, that I might have an opportunity to say, 
in conversation with them, what otherwise they would not 
come to hear. 

'Teb. 4th, the doctor and several others called and thought 
my end near, as symptoms of dissolution showed themselves^ 
but I spoke to them of the Saviour. The 6th, I became quite 
delirious, and the miserable state of the white people in the 
island occupied my mind. The 7th, the fever and head-ache 
abated. The doctor enquired why I had been so much dis- 
tressed last night ? I told him it was on account of the white 
people, whose wicked life was a grief to our Saviour, and an 
offence to the heathen. I took opportunity to speak the truth 



3d 

plainly to him, and told him I wished he would care for his 
own soul as he had cared for me in my sickness. The poor 
man was moved to tears.'' 

Of the effect of his labours and the heartfelt change which 
had taken place in those baptized, we may judge from an en- 
try in his diary of 1755. ^^ I heard that somebody had offer- 
ed a horse to my servant Lewis, on the condition of his doing 
something which neither the black nor white people here 
think to be wrong, but which was against his conscience. He 
refused it, and answered : ' I will not lose my soul to 
gain a horse !' '' 

^^ December. The JSTegro Job visited us to-day, and said, 
with emotion, ^ I feel something in my heart, as if the Sa- 
viour had kindled a fire there, which makes me glad.' He 
did not know rightly how to understand this, but Br. Shall- 
cross explained to him with force and unction, that Jesus 
had come into this world to kindle such a fire. "We read for 
him the history of the two disciples whom the Saviour met 
and conversed with on their way to Emmaus, and how they 
felt their hearts burn within them while he explained to 
them his death, and the cause of it. Job was much moved, 
and tears ran down his cheeks abundantly. "We closed the 
day with happy and cheerful hearts for this gift, which was 
more acceptable .to us, than if somebody had given us a whole 
plantation." 

The slaves, mostly Africans, were, at that time, much at- 
tached to their heathenish religion, which is of the lowest 
kind, the worship of the Eetish ; anj object that may be cho- 
sen for religious worship, and accounted holy. Some of them 
were Mahomedans, who had learned to say their prayers in 
Arabic, but these were not numerous; by far the greater 
part adhered to their heathenish practices, such as the sacri- 
fice of fowls, and other offerings at the grave of departed 



31 

Mends, and many such customs. Their faith in witchcraft, 
or Obeah, was at that time very strong, and this and similar 
customs were much practised. Those who were baptized, 
and became communicants, found unspeakable comfort in the 
simple belief that they were now the property of the Lord 
Jesus, and that witchcraft had lost its power over them. 
When at a later period, the slaves were baptized in some of the 
churches, as a matter of form and custom, their faith in the 
preserving grace of God, as experienced by baptized believers, 
was considerably weakened. "We do not consider baptism as 
another form of superstition, but, when rightly understood, 
we look upon it as an evidence of true faith. A baptized and 
converted heathen feels that he has escaped out of the snare of 
the devil, and this conviction gives him comfort and security. 
Eut when baptism is a mere form, this cannot be the case. 
The new converts were indeed but weak and feeble, and their 
religious knowledge was very circumscribed. It could not be 
otherwise, with the scanty means they had for instruction, 
and the few opportunities which they had for hearing the 
truth, especially in those places where baptism was preached 
as a saving ordinance instead of the gospel. It has, however, 
always been a rule with the Brethren rather to take the affec- 
tions and dispositions of the heart, as a qualification for bap- 
tism, than mere knowledge. The confession of our sinful 
state, faith in the forgiveness of sins through the bloodshedding 
and death of the Lord Jesus, love to him, and a willingness 
to obey his commandments, — this is the knowledge and state of 
mind and heart, which, we believe, qualifies a heathen for 
baptism. 

This infant congregation consisted of persons upon whose 
minds and hearts the love of the Saviour had made an im- 
pression, and who were willing to learn, and to be taught the 
knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. Their strength did 



not consist so much in knowledge as in love ; their desire was 
to experience the power of this love ; and they were taught 
to give practical evidence of it by a walk and conversation 
becoming the gospel. I have known more than one old, igno- 
rant African JN'egro, who knew nothing else but that Jesus 
was his Saviour, and therefore loved him so as to endure perse- 
cution unto death ; these were believers whom no earthly pow- 
er could turn aside. Old John, at H — , would walk twenty 
miles every Saturday night to the place where Er. Zecharias 
Caries preached. He was beaten, and threatened with the 
utmost torture if he persisted in going to hear the gospel. 
'^Massa," he said, '^you may kill me, but I will go." The 
next Saturday he went again, secretly ; travelling all night, 
and when returning after the Sabbath, to be in his place 
on Monday morning, thinking himself quite alone, a man 
on horseback overtook him, and asked his name. It was 
dark, but he recognized the voice of his master, and said, ^'It 
is your John !" With a curse he was asked if he had been at 
church? He said, ^'I have, and Jesus is sweet to me ; I must 
not let him go, Massa; I must go to church." With another 
oath, and laying the whip over his head, his master passed on, 
but did not trouble him again : John had fairly wearied him out. 
These new converts had many trials and afflictions, which 
would have turned many of higher knowledge out of the 
way. It is difficult at all times and everywhere in this wick-, 
ed world, to be a christian, not almost, but altogether ; but 
to be a slave and a christian, this requires a strength of mind, 
and a power of faith which the Lord only can inspire. A 
slaveholder does not acknowledge any other power over his 
slave than his own. God's commandments, convictions and 
conscience, he will, and does, set at defiance — he laughs at 
them. Even after slavery had been abolished, I had once to 
plead the cause of a former slave against his master, who had 



83 

ordered him to do what was awfully sinful. ''This man/' 
I said, ''knows it and feels it to be wrong; how then can 
you expect him to do it r" " "What/' he answered, " did not 
/tell him? "What business has he to think, or to judge, or 
to set up his conscience after /have commanded him !" Yes, 
the slave-holder demands obedience of body and soul, and 
how is a poor slave to act under such a system ? If his faith 
is stronger than the world, he suffers and becomes a martyr ; 
and to be such a martyr little knowledge is required, love 
to the Saviour enables him to take the crown. 

The converts resided on the Bogue, Elim, and Two-miles- 
wood plantations. On another plantation named Lancaster, 
adjoining the Bogue, belonging to the same family, where the 
Brethren were likewise permitted to preach the gospel, their 
labours were, and always remained, fruitless. The Xegroes 
of this estate clung to their African superstitions with a per- 
tinacity that could never be overcome. They had little in- 
tercourse with the In egroes on other estates : they formed a 
small colony for themselves, and with sullen indifference 
turned a deaf ear to the entreaties of the missionaries. The 
slave-owners found them likewise much more untractable than 
others ; and symptoms of insubordination and rebellion were 
jfrequent amongst them. In the present day, that plantation 
has been abandoned, and the former population has either 
died out, or settled in other places. 

It is a common experience in the kingdom of God, that, no 
sooner has any good been effected, than efforts are put forth 
by the prince of darkness to destroy the work of God and ren- 
der his grace of non-effect. jS'o man had ever cared for the 
souls of these slaves; they were left in utter ignorance, servants 
of sin and satan, and without God in the world. The ]Moravian 
missionaries were the first who remembered them in their 
low estate, and spoke to them the word of life. The effect 
c 



34 

produced was astonishing ; many were tlie enquiries, '^ "What 
must I do to be saved?" and numbers having made a 
good profession of the faith, it could not but be expected 
that opposition would arise, and obstacles be thrown in the 
way. In most instances, the white officers on the plantation 
were the greatest enemies of the gospel. Men sunk in the 
service of vice and lust, soon discovered that the gospel stood 
in their way, and they could not brook any denial or opposi- 
tion. It is not yet thirty years since one of them rode, on a 
sabbath-morning, into the chapel yard of the mission at the 
Eogue, armed with a whip, to drive away all his slaves. 
Along with this, hindrances arose from a quarter, in which, 
least of all, they might have been expected. Satan succeed- 
ed in sowing the seed of discord ' among the missionaries 
themselves. 

In 1755, Br. Gottlieb Haberecht departed this life, and, in 
consequence, the labours of the remaining missionaries were 
so much increased, that they found it necessary to apply to 
the mission board for assistance ; and on December 24th, 
1756, the Brethren Eauch and Schulz arrived from N'orth 
America. Br. Christian Eauch, a most devoted and able man, 
may well be styled the apostle of the Indians. He had la- 
boured among them since 1740, with great success, so that 
his name stands forth prominently in the history of the J^orth 
American mission. This Br. having preached the gospel for fif- 
teen years to a free and intelligent people, the contrast which 
met him here, among an enslaved population, must have been 
very striking, and probably this was the reason that he and 
his companions found fault, and objected to the plan hitherto 
pursued in this mission. They could not be persuaded to sur- 
render their opinion to the experience and judgment of Br. 
Caries and his colleague. It appeared to them that the rite 
of baptism had been administered too hastily. In their opi- 



35 

nion, the candidate should have possessed more scriptural 
knowledge, and should have given more decided evidence 
of a living faith and of practical religion. A confession of 
faith in Jesus, even when given apparently with the utmost 
sincerity, they deemed insufficient for the rite of baptism. 
They demanded the evidence of good works, and fixed upon a 
longer time of probation and instruction for the catechumens. 
There can be no doubt that these Brethren were sincere, and 
acted according to their convictions, but it does not appear to 
us that they are supported by scripture. Every instance of 
baptism that we read of in the 'New Testament goes to prove, 
that to be a partaker of this rite, and to become a member of 
the christian church, all that is required is faith in Jesus, and 
a confession of this faith before witnesses : this harmonizes 
with our Saviour's words, '^ Go ye therefore, and make dis- 
ciples of all nations, lajotizing them,'' and then follows, 
'^ teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have 
commanded you.'' The very character of our first mission- 
aries, as has been stated already, forbids us to suppose that 
Br. Caries and his colleagues had administered this rite with- 
out having evidence of a vital change in their converts, and 
the sincerity of their profession of faith. Still this rested 
more upon their own conviction, than upon proofs which only 
time could furnish. Such proofs these Brethren demanded, 
before they would baptize any. The missionary work of the 
Brethren was but in its commencement, and in this, as well 
as on other subjects, they had to learn lessons from experi- 
ence ; it was therefore scarcely to be wondered at that occa- 
sional disagreements arose to disturb their harmony. 

It appears that, owing to this difference of opinion, the in- 
fluence of the Brethren was considerably diminished, and the 
good cause suffered much in consequence. The catechumens 
became disheartened and confused, the attendance at the pub- 



36 

lie services decreased, and tlie life and energy that had been 
manifested during the first two years, departed. In 1759, 
Br. Nathaniel Seidel was sent here upon a visitation, but his 
endeavours to reconcile their differences seem to have been 
unavailing. He left the island the same year, and with him 
the Brethren Caries and Shallcross, while the Brethren llauch, 
Shulz, and five others, with several Sisters who bad joined 
them in 1759, remained to carry on the mission. Their la- 
bours do not appear to have been fruitful ; but few attended 
their ministry, and very few were baptized — life and spirit 
seem to have fied. However, as a proof of the good influence 
they exercised over the [N'egroes, it is stated, that on the rebel- 
lion of the slaves in 1760, none of their converts joined the 
rebels. This, after all, is but a negative proof, for the enemy 
of souls succeeded in hindering the word of God, and keep- 
ing his subjects in bondage and darkness : a sad instance of 
the evil arising from disunion among those who are to be 
stewards of the mysteries of God, and fellow- workers with 
him. It reminds us of the apostolic injunction : '^ Let 
us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same things." 

In 1734, Brother Schlegel joined the missionaries at the 
Bogue. He was an able and devoted man, w^hose labours 
were richly blessed by the Lord : his name is mentioned with 
distinction. Through his instrumentality, a revival took 
place among the Negroes ; again they fiocked in numbers to 
the meeting-house ; again many begged to be receiv ed into 
the christian church by baptism ; and three years after, in 
1767, no fewer than 131 were baptized, and an equal number 
the year following. But it pleased the Lord soon to call him 
to himself. He departed in 1770. And from this time until 
the year 1809, the mission among the Negro slaves in Jamaica 
remained in a feeble and unsatisfactory state. Not much was, 
or could be, reported of the labours of the missionaries. 



37 

Shortly after the commencement of the mission, in the 
year 1755, the Brethren became possessed of 700 acres of 
land, of which only 300 were capable of cultivation, and 
on this a temporary dv/elling was erected for their accom- 
modation. Whether the whole of this land was presented 
to the Brethren as a gift, or afterwards purchased by them, 
or whether the dwelling-house was built at the expense of 
the patrons of the mission, or by the missionaries, I am not 
informed ; but most probably they procured the principal 
means for the establishment of this station by their own la- 
bour. This place was situated about ten miles from the 
Bogue, and was named N'ew Carmel ; it is now called Old 
Carmel. Here the Brethren, after some time, built the lar- 
gest house that I have seen in Jamaica. It is eighty-four 
feet by fifty-four, and twenty feet high. It contains in the 
centre a large hall, which served as a chapel, capable of ac- 
commodating 200 hearers ; a passage runs round this hall, 
by which it is separated from the dwelling-rooms on each 
side of the house. 

Old Carmel is situated in the parish of St. Elizabeth, on 
the border of a large swamp, in a most unhealthy locality. 
In fact, 400 acres of the estate are a useless and dangerous 
marsh, so that sickoess and death are frequent visitors there. 
In 1756, the number of missionaries having been increased 
to four Brethren and two Sisters, the place was opened as 
a separate mission station. Sister Schultz, who departed 
this life in 1757, is the first whose remains are interred in the 
burying-ground there. In the list of the departed, she is 
mentioned as '^the most faithful heart among us." 

The church had, as yet, made no provision for the mainten- 
ance of the missionaries. They had no support except the 
perquisites which were allotted to them by the proprietors 



38 

of the estates on which they laboured ; but as these perqui- 
sites were by no means sufficient to sustain them, they were 
thrown upon their own resources, and compelled, if possible, 
to procure a maintenance by the labour of their own hands. 
They lived in the most humble way, were not ashamed to be 
employed in any service, such as washing their clothes and 
attending to all the other offices peculiar to housekeeping ; 
though such things were accounted very degrading in persons 
of their colour. Thus, in order to provide for their necessary 
wants, they were led to cultivate the land of Old Carmel, as 
it appeared to present the most likely means of support ; but 
to do this, at that time, without slave labour was impossible. 
In this way they were compelled, by necessity, to procure the 
assistance of slaves, without being alive to the unrighteous 
practice as we feel it in the present day. There is, however, 
one redeemiDg trait in the history of that period. It is evi- 
dent, from all their diaries, which are still preserved, that 
they treated their slaves with the utmost kindness. Still, 
slavery is such a consummate evil, that it is at any time, even 
with the best intentions, impossible to subdue all the bad 
consequences resulting from it. l^o wonder, therefore, if we 
sometimes read in their reports, of ^' slaves that feigned sick- 
ness, and must be punished j" of others ^^ that ran away, and 
must wear an iron chain round their necks." Their kindness 
however, was often abused ; still they write thus, apologizing 
for the poor slaves : ^^ They are a spoiled race : this is not to 
be wondered at, for nobody ever yet was able to bring good 
out of evil, to gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles — to 
make the bitter sweet.'' One of the brethren was appointed 
to take charge of the temporal affairs, and to act as overseer at 
Old Carmel, while the others attended to the preaching of the 
gospel, and worked at their various trades as time would per- 



S9 

mit. "We should misjudge and wrong them very much were 
we to suppose that they had sunk into woiidly-mindednesSy 
so as to forget their proper call — this was not the case. 

Prom 1756 to 1760, the mission was considerahly enlarged. 
Besides preaching regularly at the Bogue and Old Carmel sta- 
tions, holding meetings, and visiting slaves on the plantations 
of their patrons, they had opened another station at Mesopo- 
tamia, in the parish of "Westmoreland, a sugar plantation 
belonging to the same family which patronized them at the 
Bogue, and one brother was appointed to reside there. About this 
time they were invited by other proprietors to preach the gospel 
to their slaves ; so that within a few years, several new stations 
were established at Islands and "Williamsfield,^'' in a part of 
the country called Nassau, about twelve miles from the Bogue, 
and there also one or other of the brethren went to reside from 
time to time. They were not permitted to preach on the neigh- 
bouring estates, but the slaves from those plantations frequently 
came by stealth to attend the meetings in the evening. They 
had public service in the afternoon of the sab bath- day, as it 
was impossible for the slaves to attend in the morning. On 
"Wednesday evening, they had a public meeting for reading 
and expounding the scriptures, and on Saturday, the catechu- 
mens and the baptized ' members of the church met for in- 
struction. Besides attending to these services, they diligently 
visited the sick, the old and infirm, and took every opportu- 
nity to spread the saving knowledge of the gospel ; still they 
had to regret the want of success in proportion to their la- 

* In the "Historical Sketches," published by our late bishop 
Holmes, Emmaus is naraed as a regular station of the Brethren at 
that time. This, I believe, is a mistake. It is not mentioned in any 
of the diaries to which I have had access. Emmaus is an estate close 
to Old Carmel, where the Brethren veiy likely preached now and then. 
Their station at the Bogue may have been called Emmaus. 



40 

bours, though not left altogether without evidence of the 
Lord's blessing. During the first fifty years of the mission, 
that is until 1804, there had been only 936 ITegroes baptized ; 
still in all the stations which have been mentioned, a small 
christian church of from twenty to forty members was main- 
tained. The missionaries met every eight weeks, for consulta- 
tion, at Old Carmel. The minutes of their conferences are 
still preserved, but they do not contain much that is calculat- 
ed to attract particular attention. However, a few extracts, 
illustrating the state of the mission, may be interesting. ''June 
21st, 1777. In Elim, Matthew, a communicant brother has 
been put in the stocks, and received 29 stripes with the whip. 
Upon enquiry, we find he has been punished unjustly : his 
only fault was not being submissive enough to the overseer.'' 
*' July 19th. We concluded our Conference by calling upon 
the Lord to^orgive us all past sins and shortcomings, and to 
besprinkle us anew with his precious blood, that we may be 
his faithful servants to rejoice his heart. His gracious pre- 
sence was powerfully felt among us." 

''Sept. 13th. "We read over the names of all those with 
whom Ave had conversed previous to the Holy Communion. 
Fewer Brethren have attended this time than at the last 
s^jeahmg, for many are sick. Joseph is much troubled about 
his brother Isaac, who has been put in the stocks. This fami- 
ly is so closely connected, that Vv^e are afraid Joseph may be led 
astray by it. Titus and Ann Magdalene can never agree, and 
the latter did not go to the Holy Communion, as she would 
not ask pardon of Titus. Yf e shall take the first opportunity 
to speak to them about it." 

"E'ov. 5th. M. Magdalene is in a bad spirit. When Er. 
John spoke to her of her bad conduct, she rose up angrily 
and said " Good bye to you !" The Conference thought best 
to let her alone for the present ; to give her time to con- 



41 

sider and repent of her conduct. She is one of onr worst 
members." 

''April oth, 1785. Old John Carpenter, who has already 
two wives at the Bogue, has taken Susannah, Jacob's widow, 
to be his third wife. Sophia, one of his wives, came to tell 
us of this with tears. Br. John sent for him, but he would 
not come. Br. P. has, however, had an opportunity to con- 
verse with them, and they could not deny it. "We resolved 
to exclude them publicly from the congregation." 

Every time the Brethren met at conference, they read the 
list of all their members, and each brother gave an account of 
those under his care, with reference to their conduct and state 
of heart. Complaints of the low state of religion, of the ab- 
sence of true repentance, of faith,'and of the decrease of their 
members, are very frequent, and almost every i^age is filled with 
a tale of sin and woe. We might admire their faithfulness in 
little things, their humility and perseverance, in spite of all 
discouragements, if we did not at the same tim^e plainly see, 
that the system under which they laboured, cramped all their 
energies, left no room for the exercise of talent, quenched the 
spirit, and was in direct opposition to a feeling of personal 
responsibility, which is the greatest inducement to exertion. 
Hindered, not only by the obstacles which slavery throws in 
the way of all mission labours, they stood towards one another 
in such subjection, that none of them, even in the smallest 
things, could act without first seeking and obtaining the con- 
sent of the rest. It would have been strange if much success 
had followed their labours. The brethren who were engaged 
in this mission at that time, were doubtless men of true 
piety and devotion, but mostly limited in their knowledge and 
talent, and all appear to have imbibed a spirit of slavery, in 
respect to the people among whom they laboured, and like- 
wise towards one another. 



42 

In 1779, Br. M. Mack was sent from the directing board 
of the missions on a visitation to Jamaica, to enquire into 
the obstacles which prevented the spread of the gospel, and, 
if possible, to remove them. Being prevented by the war 
from returning, as soon as he expected, he spent nearly a 
year in the island, and visited all the different stations. The 
brethren frequently met in conference ; they joined in earnest 
prayer, and consulted with much sincerity on the best means 
of forwarding the work of God in their congregations. But 
this visitation does not appear to have been followed by any 
essential service or great results. It is beyond the power of 
the missionary to remove the chief obstacles to the free course 
of God's word in a slave country. ISo system could be invented 
more effectually to hinder and oppose the spread of the gospel 
than slavery. The slaves had no time to hear the word, except 
when worn out in body and mind by their cruel bondage ; and 
their souls injured by a system which overthrows all morality, 
and sets at defiance the plainest commands of scripture. How 
can there be morality where marriage is illegal ? where over- 
Beers, bookkeepers, and drivers know no bounds, no obstacles 
to their evil lusts ? How is the debased ignorant heathen ta 
be taught ihe fear of God, and the heinousness of sin, when 
he finds himself the victim of evil passions, and the most un- 
blushing immorality, in those who profess to be his superiors, 
and when he sees his equals treated as the beasts of the field ? 
The most faithful instructions, the most earnest labours, will 
be ineffectual, if not accompanied by the grace of God. The 
influence and teaching of God's holy Spirit must ahoimd; 
must work a change, a conviction in the heart of the indivi- 
dual, strong, thorough, and decided ; before a poor slave can 
say with the apostle, '' I am persuaded that neither death nor 
life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things 
present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any 



43 

other creature, shall be able to separate me from the love of God 
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Examples of the abound- 
ing grace of God were not indeed wanting at this time, among 
the j^egro slaves ; still we are not to suppose, even where this 
change had taken place, that such a one was a pattern of chris- 
tian perfection. By no means ; nevertheless, if the slave was 
weak and ignorant, yet he learned to love, and was beloved of 
the Lord. This was his strength. We who have grown up, 
particularly, in christian families, enjoyed religious instruction 
from our youth, and are members of those churches in which 
everything combines to check evil inclinations, and to foster 
good resolutions, are scarcely able to comprehend the darkness 
of a heathen's mind. The fortitude, decision, and surrender 
of the heart to the Saviour, that are requisite to make a slave 
confess the Lord, by word and action, in the midst of degra- 
dation, violence, and cruel depravity, assume in many respects 
the character of a perpetual martyrdom. If a mission to the 
K'egro slaves really prospers, if instances of such conversions 
are multiplied, it is a miracle of divine grace, far greater than 
anything which we meet with in civilized society or chris- 
tian lands. 

I shall conclude this chapter by a brief statement of the 
regulations adopted by the Brethren's Church to direct her 
missionaries in their practice towards the ]^egro slaves parti- 
cularly with regard to polygamy and marriage. 

It has been stated already, that the labours of the mis- 
sionaries, from the year 1770 until 1809, were not ac- 
companied with such demonstrations of the Holy Spirit and 
power upon many as would enable them to rejoice in their 
work, though they were encouraged to persevere by seeing 
occasionally some proof of their labours in the conversion of 
a few. To teach these the commandments of the Lord, and 
to maintain a christian conduct, was their earnest desire. 



44 

But here again, they met with almost insurmountable diffi- 
culties, of which one, common to all slave countries, may be 
mentioned. Polygamy was the usual practice among the 
slaves, indeed it was forced upon them by the circumstances 
in which they were placed. Carriages were illegal, l^ever- 
theless, the members of the congregation were solemnly joined 
in matrimony at a meeting of the Christian JSTegroes, when 
they gave one another the hand 'and promised faithfulness. 
These unions were justlj^ considered binding in the churchy 
though not recognized by the laws of the land. And if the 
husband or the wife "proved unftdthful, they were publicly 
excluded from the congregation. But it was by no means 
uncommon for one or the other to be sold to a distant part of 
the island, v/ithout any prospect of ever meeting again. In 
such cases, it was difficult to know how to decide ; those rules 
recognized in all christian lands as binding, were often inap- 
plicable, and impossible to be carried out. The rules referring 
to polygamy and marriage among heathen converts adopted 
by the Synod of the Brethren's Church, and which served for 
the direction of the missionaries in such cases, were the fol- 
lowing, which we believe to be according to scripture, though 
perhaps, those who have never considered the matter before, 
may not be able at once to satisfy their own minds on the 
subject. '^ When a Xegro man or woman applies to be bap- 
tized, or to be received into the congregation, strict enquiry 
is to be made concerning every circumstance attending his or 
her situation and connexion in life. If it is found that a man 
has more than one wife, the question arises, how the Brethren 
have to advise him in this particular. St. Paul says, ^^ If ' 
any brother has a wife that believeth not, (one that is yet a 
heathen) and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not 
put her away.''^^' But again, he says, ^' A bishop must be 
* 1 Cor. ^ii. 12. 



45 

blameless, the husband of one wife.''^^ In these passages we 
have the teaching of the holy scriptures concerning this 
subject ; the Brethren are therefore of opinion that the mis- 
sionaries should keep strictly to the following regulations. 

^' 1st. That they should not compel a man, who had, before 
his conYersion, taken more than one wife, to put away one or 
more of them, without her or their consent. 

'^ 2nd. But yet, that they would not appoint such a man 
to be a helper or servant in the church. 

'^ 3rd. That a man who belie veth in Christ, if he marry, 
should only take one wife in marriage, and that he is bound 
to keep himself only to that woman till death part them. 

'^ 4th. If by the sale of IS'egroes, wives are torn from their 
husbands, and husbands from their wives, and earned off to dis- 
tant parts, though the Brethren cannot advise, yet they cannot 
hinder a regular marriage with another person, especially if a 
family of young children, or other circumstances, seem to 
make a help-meet necessary, and as is mostly the case, no 
hope remains of the former ever returning." 
* 1 Tim. iii, 3. 



CHAPTER II. 

180 9 TO 18 23. 

SKOTHER LAls^G HIS LAMENTATIONS — AWAKENING — G. LEWIS 

iROBEET PEAUT EXTRACTS EEO]lkI THE BIAET OF OLD CAEMEL 

BE, LANg's COEEESPONBENCE WITH ME. H. SPEEAB OE THE 

GOSPEL IN THE MILE GULLY MOUNTAINS BAPTISM IN THE 

STATE-CHUECH VISIT OE THE GUSTOS OF ST. ELIZABETH PAEISH 

AT OLD CAEMEL ACCUSATION AGAINST THE MISSIONAEIES 

ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW EDEN PREACHING ON YARIOUS 

ESTATES. 

In 1805, Brother John Lang having arrived from England 
to labour in this mission, was stationed in Old Carmel. His 
name will long be remembered with much love and esteem. 
He was a prudent, zealous and gifted missionary, ardent in 
spirit, and earnest in his endeavours to win souls for Christ. 
To him the lifeless state of the mission was almost unbearable ; 
his diary contains many fervent prayers to the Lord for his 
blessing, and for the outpouring of his Spirit upon the people 
whom he found sitting in darkness and the shadow of death. 
March 31st, 1809, he writes : ^^ Daring this week (Passion- 
week,) we had meetings every day, and called upon the N'e- 
groes in our neighbourhood to attend. "We have contem- 
plated our Saviour's suffering scenes, and also enjoyed his 
testament. Eut though not without a blessing to ourselves, 
the power of darkness resting upon all around us is immense. 
Whether the Good Shepherd will find some willing to be car- 



47 

ried to his fold, I know not. If he receives any, greater 
miracles were never wrought ! To the best of my knowledge 
there was not a single individual among the slaves who atten- 
ded the meetings, whose heart was touched in the least 
degree with a single spark of grace. Here we are ! for what ? 
I know not. To despair after a trial of fifty years might be 
natural. Suppose we are here as a witness against them on 
the day of judgment ! Oh, poor ofiice ! A witness for de- 
struction ! Lord have mercy ! Lord look down upon us ! 
Though surrounded by discouragements beyond description, 
yet despair we will not. The Father is greater than all, the 
Son is equally great ; should not his blood prevail ? Ameru*' 
And on September 8th, 1812, the following entry is made 
with pencil on the same page : '' Some of our iS'egroes are 
now willing." 

This pleasing change was brought about in the following 
manner. At the close of the last century, several Wesleyan 
and Baptist missionaries arrived at Jamaica, and preached the 
gospel in Kingston and its yicinity ; and, at the same time, 
a number of ^Negroes, belonging to the Eaptist Church, came 
over from America, and zealously endeavoured to propagate 
the faith, as far as they knew it, among the people ; these 
latter, however, being very ignorant, and unable to read the 
word of God, entertained many superstitious notions, and 
preached but a spurious gospel : still Christ was preached — 
the labours of all these were not vrithout effect ; the attention 
of the jN"egroes was arrested, and not a few were found among 
them who secretly visited their fellow slaves from plantation 
to plantation, telling them of a book in which God's word 
was declared, of Jesus, the Saviour, of a heaven to which 
they likewise might go, and teaching the people a form of 
prayer. Among them was a black man, named George 
Lewis, a native of Guinea, who had been carried to Jamaica^ 



48 

and sent from thence to Virginia in North America, where he 
heard the gospel preached by the Baptists, and was admitted 
into their church. After some time, this man returned to 
Jamaica, with the full intention of imparting the knowledge 
of Christ to his fellow-slaves. He had many opportunities 
for doing this, as his owner, a Miss Yalentine, of Kingston, 
allowed him, upon his paying her a certain sum every month, 
to traverse the country as a pedlar, and had given him a 
ticket of leave to this effect. He travelled frequently in the 
parishes of Manchester and St. Elizabeth, preached first to a 
few ; these invited others to come and hear him ; and soon he 
was so well known among the slaves, that they assembled 
round him at night, wherever he went. This produced a 
general enquiry after the truth among the K'egroes ; and as 
the Brethren were invited about the same time to preach on 
an estate called Peru, and likewise on other plantations in 
the May-day mountains, they became more generally known, 
and Old Carmel was soon visited by numbers making the en- 
quiry, ^^ Yfhat must we do to be saved r" George Lewis 
introduced himself to the missionaries, and Br. Lang conceiv- 
ed such a good opinion of him, that at his request, he, (Br. 
Lang,) proposed that the congregation would collect one hun- 
dred pounds to purchase his freedom. This they accom- 
plished, and George Lewis became a free man. Lrom that 
time, he was much with our missionaries at Old Carmel, and 
frequently accompanied them on their visits to the different 
plantations. Among the planters, he was mu.ch disliked, espe- 
cially when they heard that he kept meetings with the slaves 
at night, and the familiarity and kindness with which the 
Brethren treated him was much spoken against. He was 
imprisoned repeatedly for this offence of preaching to the 
slaves ; and once he escaped being taken up and confined only 
through the intercession of Br. Lang. 



49 

It is difficult, at the present time, to say whether Lewis 
was really a worthy character ; however it is affirmed by 
the Erethren that much good was done by his instrumen- 
tality. For instance ; on several estates in the parish of 
Manchester, the people worshipped a cotton tree, had an idol 
in every house, and lived in the greatest enmity, frequently 
poisoning one another : by his persuasion they forsook their 
idol worship, and sought for christian instruction. It is also 
certain that he was the means of leading many on other plan- 
tations to enquire after the right way. But on the other 
hand, we find that at one time he was accused of dishonesty, 
and it appears that his religious notions were combined with 
a great deal of superstition. However he remained but a 
short time in company with the Erethren ; they never asked 
him to become a member of their church, and he never ap- 
plied for fellowship with them. It does not appear that he 
ever joined any regularly constituted church in Jamaica, 
but preferred taking his own course ; and having removed to 
a distant part of the parish, he there practised, as the people 
sometimes expressed it, "the jSTegroes' home religion and 
meeting." Be this as it may, there can be no doubt that he 
contributed greatly to excite among the people in these parts 
a desire to be instructed in the christian doctrine. It is as- 
tonishing what a distance they would travel to attend the 
meetings ; many of them would secretly leave home in their 
common clothes, as if going to their provision grounds ; and 
carrying their Sunday dress tied up in a bundle, would walk 
from twenty to thii^ty miles on Saturday night, in order to be 
at Old Carmel early on Sunday morning, to hear the gospel ; 
and then return home the following night, so as to be at work 
on the plantation grounds at six o'clock on Monday morning. 
Certainly there must have been an earnest desire for spiritual 
food to induce these poor people voluntarily to undergo such 

D 



50 

hardships for the gospel's sake. An old Avoman, who came 
eleven miles to attend the meetings, being asked how she 
could walk so far ? answered, '^ Loye made the way shokt !' ' 
Poor sinful man finds a charm in doing what others would 
not have him to do, and knowing what others do not wish him 
to know. These poor slaves coveted the knowledge of this, to 
them, new religion; because they saw their masters, in general, 
did not desire them to know it. Such motives may have roused 
them to seek after the truth, and though the church stood very 
far off, even their curiosity not unfrequently made the way 
to it short and easy. ]^o doubt many amongst the slaves were 
actuated by some such motives ; nor is it to be wondered at, 
if some of them were led on by their prevailing superstitions. 
It would be diffi.cult to say that the movement at that time 
was a real and general awakening ; but there can be no doubt, 
that many amongst them were sincere enquirers. There was 
certainly much superstition intermingled with their religious 
exercises ; many had wonderful dreams to tell, which they 
considered as prophetic visions ; some excited themselves by 
fanatical notions, and fell into wild extravagancies, which 
they called ^^ The Convince," in y/hich they had full faith as 
much as in a divine revelation. 

The following account of an aged Xegro, who departed this 
life in 1845, illustrates the influence which G. Lewis had over 
the people, and their religious feelings at that time. Eoberc 
Peart, at Spice Grove, was by birth a ]\Ian dingo ; he was taught 
to read and write, and early initiated into the Mahometan 
faith, being designed for an expounder of their law. "When 
about twenty years of age, he went on a visit to his uncle, 
previous to his entering " the great school at Timbuctoo'' to 
finish his studies. "\Yhile there he was waylaid, and carried 
down the coast to be sold. His relations endeavoured to ran- 
som him, but in vain : he was brought to Jamaica : this was 



51 

about the year 1777. For some time he adhered to the Ma- 
hometan religion, in which he had been brought up, at least 
partially, and confessed that whenever he wished to observe 
one of the Mahometan fasts, he pretended to be sick. "When 
G. Le^vis visited these parts, Eobert's attention was arrested 
by hearing him asking a blessing and returning thanks at 
his meals. '^I saw him," said Eobert, ^'before him eat, say 
thankee, and when him done, say thankee again. He say eh I 
(an exclamation of surprize among the !N"egroes.) Him say 
to me, ' "Why don't you pray r' lie answer him : He do 
pray. He say to me, ^ What do you pray r' He say me be- 
lieve in God, but not in his Son ; for in me country we pray 
to God and his prophet Hahomet." George Lewis replied : 
' Dick, (this was Eobert's name before baptism) you are alto- 
gether wrong, you must pray to Jesus Christ, Him the only 
right one to pray to.' ^^These words," Eobert continued, '^sunk 
into my heart ; I went home and told my wife all the man had 
said. I was then building a house, it was about half finish- 
ed ; one night I went in there, kneeled down, and began to 
pray: Lord have mercy upon me ! Christ, have mercy upon me ! 
again and again, for that was all I could say. By and by I was 
tired and fell asleep, when I thought I heard a voice saying 
unto me : ^ "Why don't you pray :' Immediately I jumped 
up, and began to pray : Lord, have mercy upon me I and so 
continued all night." His mind seems to have become more 
deeply impressed from day to day with the conviction of some- 
thing more being necessary for salvation ; but as yet he had 
no other counsellor, though he had heard of Br. Lang, the 
Moravian missionary, at Old Carmel. It happened soon after 
that the jN'egroes having offended the overseer, he directed 
Dick to cut down and destroy all the yams and provisions 
they had planted in their gardens. At this he felt very 
uneasy, knowing it to be a harsh measure, and prayed 



52 

fervently to God for direction. The tlionglit came into Lis 
mind to go and ask advice of the Moravian missionary at Old 
Carmel, about ten miles distant. He ran thither in breathless 
speed, and stated his case. Einding a judicious and sympa- 
thizing friend in Br. Lang, he unbosomed himself still further, 
and declared his desire for baptism, informing him that he had 
been brought up a Mahometan, but had found that faith to 
be a broken staff which could not support him. Having ob- 
tained suitable advice, he returned home with an easier mind, 
and became earnest in his attendance on the means of grace. 
At that time the praying people under their black guide were 
very strict and regular in their observances. Whenever Q, 
Lewis came to the estate, they contributed at the rate of three- 
pence each, had a supper, and sat up all night listening to his 
instructions. They were in the habit of fasting three times a 
week, eating and drinking nothing from sunrise to sunset. 
This naturally irritated the planters, who took every means to 
put it down. One day the overseer, having had the names of 
three of the praying men mentioned to him, went into the field 
early in the morning to observe how they could work the day 
through. "When breakfast time came they took none, and as 
they told him they had eaten enough before it was day, he 
ordered them to break stones all day, with sledge-hammers, 
which they readily continued to do till evening without inter- 
mission, and so successfully, that he could not refrain from 
expressing his surprise ! 

'^ After Eobert Peart had attended the instruction of Br. 
Lang for some time, he relates that one Eriday night he 
dreamed he was in a dark house, when a man came in, and it 
became light. The person approached and kissed him three 
times. He enquired, ^^ Who are you ?" and was answered, 
'lam Jesus of Ifazareth, come to pardon all your sins;' 
* immediately," he added, ^'I fell at his feet, and kissed 



53 

them." This dream made an indelible impression upon his 
mindj and in two days after it, he was baptized by Br. Lang. 

Eeligion having begun to spread more and more among the 
Negroes, Eobert and some others were taken before a bendfi 
of magistrates, and examined as to the nature of the instruc- 
tion which they received. His answers having convinced the 
judges that the gospel will make a man a more valuable servant 
and a better member of society ; he was quietly dismissed. To 
the first question of the chairman, respecting the nature of 
the instruction which they received, he replied, ^^ "We are told 
to believe in God, who sees us everywhere, and in his Son 
Jesus Christ ; and to pray to him to take us to heaven." — 
^^WeU, what more?" ^^ "We must not tell Hes." <^What 
more ?" '^ "We must not steal from massa." ^^ What more ?" 
^^We must not run away and rob massa of his work." 
" What more ?" ^^We must not have two wives, for by and 
by they will get jealous, and hurt one another, and massa' s 
work will fall back." ^^ What more ?" ^' We must pray for 
buckra (overseer) and everybody." Here the magistrate 
closed his examination by saying, '^ Well, go along." These 
answers may be taken as a fair specimen of N"egro ability and 
shrewdness. Eobert Peart' s christian conduct had such an 
efi'ect on the overseer, for whom, by the instruction of the 
missionary, he prayed regularly, that after some time he fre- 
quently lent him a mule to ride to church. 

The following extracts from the journals of the missionaries 
are given to illustrate still further the spirit, character, and 
success of the mission at that time. 

„ March 27th, 1812. Er. Lang went to Peru this morning, 
and read to the Negroes for upwards of two hours, the ac- 
count of our Saviour's last words, his sufferings, and death. 
^They were remarkably attentive and orderly. Br. Lang told 
them that if they really wished to become oui- Saviour's pro- 



54 

perty, it would be needful for him to attend to their instruc- 
tion every Sunday morning. They spoke altogether and said, 
*Massa, that will not do.' Br. Lang then told them, that 
m long as they came in their master's time, they only came 
because they miistQom.e ; but that if they came in their own 
time, it would then be seen who came for the Lord's sake ; and 
as they would walk seven miles for a cake of soap, they would 
surely be willing to give half an hour to serve the Lord who 
died for them, by attending to his word, if they were in ear- 
nest ; but if not, they would remain without the knowledge 
of him as their Saviour. The result was : ^ What massa had 
proposed was very good, and they would attend if possible.' 
Prom this conference Br. Lang withdrew much pleased, in 
the hope that our Saviour would bless his labours among 
these poor ignorant heathen." 

^^ May 15 th, Br. Lang went to Peru, and conversed with fif- 
teen !N"egroes. The overseer was very angry, that he had 
kept them so long, but it could not be helped." 

'^ June 6th, Br. Lang went to Peru, where he saw young Mr. 
H. for the first time, and had a long conversation with him 
concerning the mission. He said he had been told a mission did 
not answer among Negroes. That preaching to them in a mild 
manner had the bad effect of making them too easy and indo- 
lent ; and besides, if they were to hear such lenient doctrine, 
the?/ would exjject their masters to he gentle too. He concluded 
by saying, ^ You preach to them in the church, and I will 
make them work in the field.' I kept two meetings, Mr.H. was 
present at both, and said afterwards, ' He could not see why 
we should not do well, and have it agreeable together.' " 

^' June 20th, Br. Lang preached again at Peru. The ITegroes 
are very hungry after the gospel, though the overseer does 
not behave even with common civility. He said, ' Mr. H. 
would look sharply after the ISTegroes, and soon put a stop to 



55 

the mission.' Eiit vre trust our Saviour will defend his own 
cause. 

'^ July 4th, Mr. H. desired I would discontinue keeping 
meetings in the iN'egro huts, because he thought I made my- 
self too familiar with them by going into their houses." 

The following correspondence between Mr. H . and Er. 

Lang is too characteristic to be omitted. ^' Sept. 12th. Mr. 
H . sent me the following letter : 

* Sir, — Our Negroes being in the mountains, where they are 
likely to remain for sometime, I think proper to inform you of it. 
As they have their provision grounds there, I should not like 
them to come down before they have finished their work. Both 
myproperties are so much behindhand, that we ought not to lose 
the least time ; and as Mr. P — . has informed my father, that 
you frequently come on a Sunday, he has written me, wishing 
to encourage it, which I certainly shall do, as far as is consis- 
tent with propriety and the good of the property, notwith- 
standing the sneering and ridicule I am frequently exposed 
to on account of it, I therefore suggest to you, having now 
several converts, the propriety of coming onli/ on Sunday , as 
often as you please, relinquishing your coming on Saturday 
altogether. This I certainly think by far the best way. Sun- 
day being the most proper day, not only in a temporal but a 
spiritual point of view. I will write to you when the people 
have finished their work in the mountains, and are come back 
to Peru. I now leave the subject for your consideration. 

f Yours, &c. H : '' 

To this letter Br. Lang returned the following answer : 
^^ Sir, — With respect to the first information your letter con- 
tains, that the people are in the mountains, I have no remark 
to make, but regret that it so happens, as I had intended to 
prepare seven of your [^Tegroes for holy baptism, previous to 
our next meeting at Old CarmeL Their absence prevents me 



56 

from doing so. As to the next point : that the work on the 
estate ^ is much behindhand/ I doubt not. The old saying 
is, ^ Eome was not built in one day/ And I would remind 
you, that as a shower of rain takes up much work time, but 
pays it back again in another way, so does the hearing and 
due attendance on the word of God, only in a far higher 

degree. Eespecting Mr. P- 's writing to your father, 

that I attended frequently on Sundays, you know I attend 
every other Sunday. To attend every Sunday is not in 
my power ; and unless your IS'egroes are at least once a 
week reminded of their baptismal covenant, they suffer 
harm. 

^^ Your complaint of being exposed to sneers and ridicule is 
the most extraordinary news I should have expected to hear. 
Surely you have more than once been present, and heard me 
speak in a meeting to your ITegroes, and can thus far judge 
of what I say, viz. : that I teach scripture only — the pure 
gospel. If this disinterested preaching of a Saviour to per- 
ishing souls exposes to ridicule, not only the preacher, but 
also the innocent Mr. H , and that too from people call- 
ing themselves christians, pretending to a liberal education, 
then I wish to know in what their liberal sentiments con- 
sist ? To censure a thing they do not junderstand nor are 
able to refute, is very great iiliberality, and shows very 
little good sense. But, I confess, reproach and ridicule are 
very hard to bear. It broke our Saviour's heart."' How 
much more difficult is it for a mere human creature to sus- 
tain, I confess, were it not that this it must he :] were it 
not for the hope that ' Those who reproach here bear, — In 
heaven a crown shall wear,' and the fearful denunciation of 
Jesus : ' Whosover therefore shall be ashamed of me and of 
my words in this adulterous and sinfid generation^ of him 
* Ps. xlix. 20. + 2 Tim.iii 12. 



57 

also shall the Son of man be ashamed; when he cometh in the 
glory of his Father, with the holy angels :'-' I should very 
much hesitate, ere I exposed myself to the poisonous arrows 
shooting forth from the sneering lips of an infidel. 

^'S'ow, regarding the most important point in your letter, 
'not to preach on Saturday,' I must confess, that, as the 
only estate that was liberal enough to spare one hour in iwo 
weeks, for the instruction of all the Negroes in the only one 
tiling needful, is inclined, not only to grudge, but apparently 
determined to take that privilege from them, at a time when 
there were many willing to render their souls unto their Sa- 
viour, I find this very hard, and greatly to be lamented, 
particularly as I can only spare one Sunday in a fortnight \ 
the prospect of doing some real good is thereby almost crush- 
ed in the bud. But as I have only to act in this case as a 
servant of the meek and lowly Saviour, I will and shall sub- 
mit to any regulation you are pleased to make on your own 
estate, and beg you to have the goodness to let me know before 
next Saturday your final determination. Tours &c., L ." 

'^ Sept. 8th. Mr. H , after keeping our servant for a 

day waiting, and using language to him contentious and un- 
becoming, sent the following letter : * Sir, — I have to answer 
your letter in a two -fold way. It is better, in my humble 
opinion, that you attend every other Sunday, than on Satur- 
day, because it must tend to give the jS'egroes a more sacred 
idea of the Sabbath ; while by your attendance on the Mas- 
lev's Saturday, the people are called fi^om their work, and I 
am sorry to say, it begets in them a great indifference to set 
to work again as they ought. As to their coming down from 

the mountains, it is out of the question. Tours, &c., H ' 

'^ Sep. 20th.'' the diary continues, '' As we cannot go to Peru, 

we feel very much out of our element, and cannot sufficiently 

* Mark viii. 38. 



58 

lament, that Mr. H . has almost put a stop to the mission." 

^^ Sept. 25th. Brother Lang having cut out from a Periodical 

published in London, the agreement between old Mr. H 

and Br. Howel, in which the former promised the J^egroes an 
hour in their own time, sent it to Mr. H < with the fol- 
lowing lines : 

' Sir, — Prom the enclosed printed paper, you will see once 
more, that your father has broken his agreement with us ; 
but having once, in the name of our society, protested against 
it, and as you seem willing to be responsible for the conse- 
quence, I herewith drop the subject. I am willing to come 
next Sunday : but will you not soon build another meeting- 
house, and release me from the wasps which have taken pos- 
session of the one I preach in ? * Yours, &c. L .' '' 

The combination of simplicity, zeal, irony, and straight- 
forwardness, in Br. Lang's letters, is very characteristic. He 
must have been a bold man to write such letters to a slave- 
holding owner of a plantation. 

^^ July 12th, 1803. Br. Lang spoke with a number of can- 
didates, much to his comfort. With very few exceptions, 
they all answered the question, ' What has our Saviour done 
for you ?' plainly, and with a most pleasing feeling, ^ He died 
for us on the cross, and shed his blood for our sins.' This 
declaration of their faith was very encouraging. ITpon those 
who believe and embrace this great mystery, it has a striking 
and most pleasing effect. With an unthinking IN'egro, we have 
great trouble, before he can be taught even to repeat this great . 
proof of our Saviour's love, and say after us. He died for me. 
But when they say i\n.^ feelingly and freely, then we have some- 
thing to go by, we can say in return. Well, he died for you, 
what do you do for him ? This never fails to lead us into 
a pleasing and beneficial conversation, and, thank God, we 
experience this now more than ever before." 



59 

*^ July 19tli. This was a blessed and distinguished day at 
Old Carmei; at three o'clock, the signal for the meeting was 
given, and at four o'clock, the public service was kept with a 
company of hearers such as we never saw before. After the 
preaching, we had the congregation meeting, v/ith our ten 
candidates approved for baptism, seated in front, dressed in 
white. After the usual discourse, the questions were put : 
Dost thou believe, &c., as stated in the baptismal Litany, 
which were correctly and energetically answered by all the 
candidates, much to our satisfaction. They were then com- 
mended to our Saviour, as his poor, despised, but believing 
and redeemed, souls, and afterwards baptized into the death 
of Jesus, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of 
the Holy Ghost." 

'^Dec. 12th. "We conversed to-day with those of our 
Carmei Kegroes who are baptized. Frederic said, ' He felt 
a great alteration since his baptism; that he would not 
now do what he did before.' — ^ What a bad man,' said he, 
' was I, how did I curse, and swear, and steal, and lie, but I 
cannot do so now, for I believe that our Saviour died and 
shed his blood for me, therefore I wish truly to be a partaker 
of his grace." 

^^ April 26th, 1813. Br. Lang felt much encouraged by- 
several of the converts expressing themselves satisfactorily 
about the state of their hearts. Old Maria is sick unto death ; 
of all who were baptized last year, she gave us the least plea- 
sure, as she was always of a quarrelsome disposition ; but she 
has changed wonderfully, and is now like a lamb. She said, 
* My Saviour is mine, and I am his ; if I get better, I sh^ll 
not like noise again, but I wish to spend my time in 
quietness.' " 

^^ July 25th. One of our baptized iN'egroes said, 'I long 
to become a partaker of the Lord's supper, and am sure the 



60 

longing I feel is from the Lord, for lie is good to me. I feel 
his peace and nearness often amazingly. When I went out 
of the meeting last week, I took off my hat, and spoke a few 
words only to our Saviour, and such heavenly peace came over 
me, that I did not know how I felt ; I could not speak to any 
body, though several people passed me, and coming into the 
field, I saw some Jl^egroes coming rather late, but I could not 
punish them. (He is a driver.) I feel our dear Saviour, and 
wish to be wholly his. The rest likewise spoke satisfactorily. 
Therefore we hope, ' And hope maketh not ashamed.' " 

^^ October 17th. Er. Ward and Br. Lang went to Peru, 
as there were about thii'ty coming from an estate, whose 
master we knew was opposed to their attendance at church ; 
and even prevented those who belonged to the neighbouiing 
estates from walking along the highroad which passes his 
house ; so that, to escape him, they were obliged to take by- 
roads, when going to hear the gospel. We asked one of them 
what his master said now, seeing that so many came ? He 
answered : ^ Since him see the word do good, and make the 
Negro good, him say nothing again.' Another was asked : 
^ What makes you come to church ?' He answered ; ^ IMy 
heart brings me here to save my poor soul ; I come to give 
myself to the Saviour.' " 

'' Oct. 12th, 1815." Br. Lang writes, '' I went to PeiTi to 
preach the word, and returned wondering at the grace of God, 
as it is evidenced among these black sheep ; truly our Saviour 
has done great things for them ; his holy name be praised for 
it. Amen.'^ 

^^ Dec. 25th. There never was such a crowd assembled 
in Carmel church, both bond and free. I feel great love foi 
the slaves. As for the free people, there is such a number 
of habitually cruel customs among them, and such an aversion 
to obedience, even to the word of God, that as yet little is ta 



61 

be expected from them. ITr. B is the only one ^'ho feels 

something of the power of the word of God in his heart, and 
begins seriously to reflect on the customs of the country, and 
on what he hears of God's word. ITay our Lord pity Ja- 
maica, and kindle a fire which nothing shall ever be able to 
quench !'' 

This most faithful and devoted servant of the Lord, Br, J. 
Lang, from whose journal the above extracts are given, de- 
parted this life at Old Carmel, June 4th, 1818. Even to such 
men, slavery did not, in those days, appear to be the great 
sin and evil which we now see and know it to be. I should 
rather suppose they looked upon it as a necessary evil. The 
ignorance and difficulties under which they laboured in those 
days may well be pleaded as their apology ; but now that the 
eyes of men are opened to behold its magnitude, they have 
no excuse. 

In the Mile Gully mountains, at Devon and other 
places, a similar awakening took place among the ]^egroes, 
chiefly by native agency, so that they frequently travelled 
twenty miles and upwards, to attend the services at the 
Bogue. From that time, commencing about 1812, the Brn. 
had the pleasure of seeing their places of worship filled with 
attentive hearers. Those who came from a great distance put 
to shame many who lived near the church, and thus contribu- 
ted to their awakening. As one of themselves expressed 
it, '^TVe never repented right, till the mountain people 
taught us by their example." There are living, at the 
present time, a number of persons who were baptized, and 
became members of the Brethren's Church in those days, and 
among them are several who for many years have been em- 
ployed as native assistants to the missionaries. These have 
maintained an exemplary christian conduct, have made a good 
profession before many witnesses, and have given full and 



62 

satisfactory evidence of a real and abiding change of heart. 
On the other hand, there are some who pride themselves not 
a little upon their long standing in the church of- God, and 
consider, in their self-righteousness, that their former works 
are an all-sufficient passport to heaven. In their opinion, to 
have attended the gospel ministry, to have come to the light, 
when so many still remained in darkness, to have been bap- 
tized by parson Lang, or parson Eaker, will cover a multi- 
tude of sins, and atone for their lulvewarmness and indifference 
in later days. This is a sad mistake on their part. Our 
Saviour's words are, " He that endureth to the end, the same 
shall be saved." 

At that time the planters were, almost without excep- 
tion, opposed to the spread of the gospel ; but the attendance of 
the slaves upon the means of grace, was strong and decided. 
"W' hen we consider that most of these men were utter stran- 
gers to vital religion, that it was almost impossible for them 
even to comprehend the wants and desires of the Xegroes, 
we can readily conceive that when they heard of meetings 
being held secretly at night, they could not think other- 
wise than that their slaves meditated a revolt. The slave 
master lived in continual dread and fear for his safety ; he 
was always suspicious, and made use of any means for self- 
preservation. And there were among the slaves not a few 
who were always ready to be the tools of the master ; these 
were employed as watchmen, not only on the estate, but along 
the roads to church. Their business was to report when and 
where meetings were held, and who had been found attend- 
ing them. The masters themselves sometimes surprised the 
jN"egroes when assembled ; and then a scene of indescribable 
confusion would take place. They might be seen escap- 
ing through the windows, breaking down the fragile walls 
of the house, climbing upon the roof, and sitting upon the 



63 

rafters. Those who were caught were severely flogged, and 
those who were entrapped on the road to or from the church, 
received the same treatment. But all this severity failed of 
the desired effect. The slaves would meet at night to pray 
together, they would go to church ; though, to escape punish- 
ment, they were compelled to avoid the highroads, and to 
make their way through woods and unfrequented p.aths. 

Many of the planters having beeu convinced of the fruit - 
lessness of all their endeavours to hinder the slaves from 
seeking the truth and hearing the gospel, were now led to 
adopt one of the most extraordinary methods which the 
enemy of souls could suggest, in the vain hope of quieting the 
consciences of the slaves, and keeping them at home. They 
invited the rector of the parish to come and baptize their Xe- 
groes at once, and agreed to pay a certain amount for each. 
There are many still living who can tell of the profane man- 
ner in which this sacred rite was performed. The slaves 
being all assembled, generally in the mill-house, the minister 
went round, accompanied by the housekeeper, or concubine, 
of the overseer, carrying a basin of water, and naming each 
slave by a new name, while he sprinkled the water upon 
them. After this followed a dance, with a large allowance of 
rum. In one instance, the minister played the fiddle and 
joined in the dance ! This profanation of religion had of 
course an evil effect upon the people. Forms and ceremo- 
nies, practised in this way, only served to disquiet them ; and 
the result was, very few would go to the parish church. 
Meantime, to prevent the slaves from attending the ministry 
of the sectarians, among whom they classed the Brethren ; 
parish and district churches were built, and ministers of one 
heart with the slaveholders were increased; but like the 
former, this plan also utterly failed, except where godly minis- 
ters, who faithfully performed their duties, were stationed. 



64 

Curiosity occasionally led some of the planters to attend the 
services at the mission station, that they might judge for 
themselves. Among others, the Gustos of the parish of St. 
Elizabeth, accompanied by his lady, came one Sunday to Old 
Carmel, vrhen several adults were baptized. They afterwards 
expressed themselves much pleased with what they had seen 
and heard, but added, ''What ignorant stupid people are 
these ! we saw those that were baptized shed tears ; they 
should have been glad at being made christians ; but instead 
of this they cry ! Why do they come to be baptized :" 
There can be no doubt but that these were tears of joy, and that 
there are religious emotions, accompanied with tears, which 
soften, and move, and gladden the heart. It appears these 
visitors had never experienced such. With facts like these be- 
fore us, can we wonder if the cravings after religious knowledge 
and devotional feelings among the slaves, were entirely incom- 
prehensible and unintelligible to their masters r 

Truly, under such circumstances, we need not be surprized 
to hear that the missionaries were often maligned and annoyed 
by the abuse which was unsparingly heaped upon them on 
public occasions, and especially at vestry meetings. They 
were charged with associating with the slaves to bring about 
a rebellion; they were accused to the governor, and an 
appeal was lodged against them, in the house of assembly, if 
possible to interdict their labours. At the same time laws 
were made to prevent the slaves from attending the meetings 
at night ; and though no further steps were taken to hinder 
the progress of the gospel, still the missionaries were gener- 
ally suspected, and every planter thought it great condescen- 
sion on his part to countenance or associate with them, 
lleantime the Brethren kept quiet : '' We will stand still,'' 
they wrote, '^ and see the salvation of God." 



Go 

The house at which the missionaries resided at the Bogno, 
becoming almost uninhabitable, they built another in 1816, 
on land granted to them by the proprietor of the estate, 
and likewise a church, which was solemnly opened on the 
1 4th of ITay, 1820. In the same year, 110 adults were bap- 
tized. This station received the name of 'New Eden ; it is 
pleasantly situated upon the Manchester mountains, and com- 
mands a fine prospect; but the climate is exceedingly hot and 
unhealthy. The church was fifty feet by thirty, built low, 
and of wood — a very humble place of worship : a few years 
afterwards it had to be enlarged. "When filled, as it 
always was to overflowing, the heat was almost intolerable, 
the thermometer ranging from 115 to 120 degrees. After 
standing for two hours in the pulpit, his clothes perfectly sa- 
turated with perspiration, the missionary withdrew, wearied, 
worn-out, and sick with headache and giddiness. Yet at that 
time our Brethren valued this accommodation highly, and 
considered it a great blessing from the Lord to have their 
own house of prayer. As a building wholly set apart for the 
service of God; it icas the first cliapel of the Brethren in Ja- 
maica. Hitherto the services of the church had been conduc- 
ted in the hall of their dwelling-house, or under the trees. 
It is still standing, and is used as a school-house. "When we 
look at it in the present day, we feel surprised at the mode- 
ration of our former Brethren. They were humble, easily 
satisfied, and willing to endure hardness, even at the risk of 
health and life, if by any means they might win souls for Christ. 
]N"ecessity may have compelled them to be content with such 
things as they had ; but when the life of the missionary is 
endangered, it is neither economy nor prudence to erect such 
places. In 1843, a cottage was built in the mountains, at 
some distance from the chapel, for the accomm.odation of the 
the missionary. And in 1848, a new church was erected at 



66 

that place, — large, high, airy, and well suited for a lowland 
station. 

About ten miles from New Eden, in a part of the country 
called N'assau, containing several richly-cultivated sugar plan- 
tations, the Brethren had preached the gospel since 1760; 
particularly on the estates of Island and Williamsfield. But 
after labouring in this distiict unsuccessfully for many years, 
the missionaries were under the necessity of retiring fi'om a 
field so unpromising, until 1815, when Br. Wai^d went to 
reside at WiUiamsfield, if possible to reopen the mission there. 
His diary proves him to have been a man of great devotion. 
He found some old people, who had been baptized by the 
Bm. Caries and Schlegel, still remaining. Among them there 
was one named Peter, whose zeal for the gospel awoke in all 
its strength when he saw another missionary coming to reside 
amongst them. This was what he had long wished and 
prayed for ; and now, when he saw his desire fulfilled, he 
zealously invited all the ITegroes to come and hear the word. 
The meetings, which were kept in his house, or in the open 
air, under the shade of the trees, were largely attended, and 
a hopeful beginning was made ; but, after three years labour, 
the missionary, Br .Ward, was called to supply the place of ano- 
ther at Mesopotamia, who had departed this life. Though 
several attempts were afterwards made to keep up this station, 
yet it has been necessarily abandoned by the Brethren, the la- 
bourers being too few to supply the demands which have been 
made upon them. However, in 1835, the Church Missionary 
Society took possession of this field, and erected a church at 
Siloah. 

At Mesopotamia in "Westmoreland, a sugar plantation be- 
longing to Mr. Barham, the gospel had been preached since 
1760. This place lies low, in a most unhealthy situation, so 
that fever and death have made sad havoc in it. Fifteen 



67 

missionaries, besides several children, are buried there : and 
several others, sick and faint, have been obliged to remove. 
The attempts to keep up this station so long, at sach a waste 
of valuable life, give evidence of extraordinary perseverance ; 
but we might put the question from dear-bought experience, 
why continue in such a place under such circumstances? 
The congregation never amounted to more than from forty to 
fiffcy baptized Negroes, and was rather decreasing than other- 
wise. The population is very large, but the Negroes had no 
confidence in the missionary, and did not desire his instruc- 
tions. Ultimately, in 1835, this station was abandoned. The 
Brethren were accused by the proprietor of neglect and care- 
lessness, but they offered to prove that the want of success 
was to be attributed solely to the constant and systematic op- 
position of the managers of the estate, who, contrary to the 
instructions of the proprietor, deprived them, as much as pos- 
sible, of every opportunity to preach to the slaves ; besides 
placing many other hindrances in their way. However, the 
proof was never required, nor could a proprietor ever listen 
to such complaints against his agents, without endangering 
his income. 

In 1815, Thomas Hall, esq., proprietor of sereral estates 
near Montego Bay, requested the Brethren to preach the gos- 
pel to his slaves, and liberally supported the mission. Br. 
J. T. Light arrived there Aug. 2nd, 1815, and went to reside 
on an estate called Irwin. His labours, during the first eight 
years were chiefly directed to benefit the children, though he 
preached and likewise kept meetings regularly for the adults. 
He was a faithful and truly excellent man, and is still re- 
membered with much love and respect. Until 1823, he did 
not meet with much success, but afterwards the Lord blessed 
his endeavours abundantly. 

These are the principal events in the history- of the mission 



68 

up to the year 1823. The first period, from 1754 to 1756 
was a promising beginning. The second, from 1756 to 1809, 
with the exception of a partial revival in 1767, was a time 
of spiritual leanness, barrenness, and declension. During the 
third period, from 1809 to 1823, a general awakening took 
place, and our stations at Old Carmel and the Eogue were fre- 
quented by crowds of attentive hearers, of whom many joined 
the church. The fourth period began with 1823, and con- 
tinued to 1832. This will constitute the subject of the next 
chapter. 



CHAPTER III. 

1823 TO 18 32. 

SALE OF OLD CAEMEL ESTABLISHiTE^s'T OE FAIEEIELD — SPEEAD OE 

THE GOSPEL THE MlSSIO^i^ SUPPOETED AXD PEOMOTED BY 

SEYEEAL PLAXTEES ITISSIOXAEY LABOITES AT EAIEEIELD 

NEWEDEJT ITESOPOTAillA lEWIX HOPETON SPEI]S^GVALE 

PLAN OE PEOCEEDIXG — NATIYE ASSISTANTS ESTAELISHiTENT OF 

SCHOOLS. 

The year 1823 stands forth, pre-eminently in the history of 
the Brethren's ITission in Jamaica. Until then, the mission- 
aries, though partly supported from home, and hy a stipend 
from the proprietors of the Bogue and Mesopotamia estates, still 
had to depend in a great measure upon their own exertions 
and labours for their maintenance. Several of them were 
always engaged in trades and in agricultural labours on their 
estate at Old Carmel ; but by this arrangement a temptation 
was continually held out to seek for uncertain riches, and 
forget their proper call. It was therefore resolved by the 
mission board to break up the establishment at Old Carmel, 
and to place the missionaries upon the same footing as in other 
countries ; viz. without guaranteeing any salary, to defray 
their expenses from the mission fund. Br. Stobwasser, who 
had already been engaged in the mission in Antigua, was 
commissioned to go to Jamaica, to superintend and carry out 
this resolution. He arrived in the early part of 1823, and 
the brethren having made the necessary preparations, the 



70 

proposed eliange was soon accomplished. Old Carmel was 
sold for £612., but the brethren reserved as their property 
the burial-ground, in which rest the remains of thirteen breth- 
ren, eleven sisters, and five children. And on October 7th, 
1823, they removed to Fairfield, on the Manchester moun- 
tains, sixteen miles from Old Carmel. This place is still the 
principal station of the Erethren in Jamaica. It stands in a 
cool, delightful, and most healthy situation ; the mountain 
air is refreshing, and when compared with the lowlands, ex- 
ceedingly invigorating both to body and mind. At the same 
time the duties of the missionaries were more strictly defined, 
and regulations were agreed upon, that they might '^ walk 
by the same rule, and mind the same thing.'' At this time 
the greater part of the congregation at Old Carmel lived in 
the neighbourhood of Faii^field ; and at the close of the year 
1828, the congregation there consisted of 448 baptized adults, 
and 69 baptized children. The other members of the congre- 
gation at Old Carmel joined that at New Eden, which at 
that time consisted of 528 baptized adults, and 90 baptized 
children. At the close of 1813, the total number in the dif- 
ferent mission stations, including children and enquirers or 
candidates for baptism, was 2282 persons. 

About this time the prejudices of the white people against 
the spread of the gospel began to give way. Owners or 
managers of estates frequently invited the missionaries to 
cozne and instruct their slaves, and several offered liberal 
contributions if they would comply with their requests. On 
one property, Devon, the proprietor himself assembled his 
people on the sabbath day, and read to them the scriptures, 
and the Church of England Liturgy. The missionaries write : 
'^ The advantages resulting to the planters from the Xegroes 
being instructed in the gospel, and becoming truly converted 
to God, seem to be generally acknowledged ; and proprietors 



11 

who formerly disliked onr work, and even opposed theii' slaves 
in going to churcli, now encouraged them to attend ; insomucli 
that our church at iSTew Eden is often too small to hold the 
number of hearers." And as to the Ifegroes, it could be re- 
ported of their spiritual state : '^ Hunger and thirst after the 
word of God seem to increase more and more." 

Ignorant themselves of the nature of true religion, the 
slaveholders who prevented their jS'egroes from attending the 
means of grace were blind to their own interests ; under such 
circumstances, what motives could a heathen slave have for 
bridling his will, passions, and desire for revenge ? K'one 
whatever. The only thing that prevented him from violence, 
bloodshed, and murder, was fear ; fear of the whip and the 
gallows. The spirit of the slaves was generally so crushed 
and broken, that they were the veriest cowards — one freeman 
would chase twenty of them. Still the whites were in con- 
tinual apprehension of a rising among the jS'egroes, and not 
without good reason, for in spite of all they could do, there 
were repeated outbreaks of a rebellious spirit. How different 
is it, when, by the reception of the gospel, faith in the Saviour 
fills the heart of a slave ! It makes him a new man. He 
commits his cause to Him that became a servant for our sakes ; 
and to follow his example, to obey his commands, is his aim 
and desire. He is even taught to consider his services not as 
done unto man but to the Lord ; ^^ to be faithful, not only to 
the good and gentle, but also to the toward." Eesistance 
and rebellion are unlawful to him, his conscience and religious 
convictions condemn them ; his master may, therefore, safely 
discard all fear of violence and murder by the converted chris- 
tian slave. To gain his freedom, he wiU not use means which 
scripture does not sanction. This is so plain and self-evident 
to every enlightened mind, that nothing but ignorance and the 
natural enmity of the heart to God, can explain the fact why 



12 

ilie planters were so violent in thuir opposition to the intro- 
duction of Christianity among their people. It was different 
in another of the AYest-India Islands, where a visitor of rank 
expressed to the governor his apprehension and fear of living 
in a slave country. ^' What security have you against their 
rising and really destroying you all ?" was his earnest enquiry. 
The governor led him to the window, and directing his attention 
to some Moravian mission stations, answered : '^ There is our 
security. I^egroes who are converted ^vill never rise in rebel- 
lion, and their number is so great, that the others could never 
conspire without their knowledge, and they would inform us." 
Had the planters therefore been su^ciently enlightened, self- 
preservation and self-interest might have produced very strong 
impressions on their minds in favour of the labours of the mis- 
sionaries ; but those who encourage the spread of the gospel 
from such motives, know nothing of that high and holy prin- 
ciple which constrains the disciples of Jesus to preach the 
good news of God's free grace to every creature. There were, 
however, several honourable characters among the proprietors, 
who, from pure motives, truly sought the spiritual welfare of 
the slaves. Foremost among these was H. Scott, esq., who, 
with his pious lady, resided on their property at Hopeton, in 
"Westmoreland. They were the owners of several estates, on 
which Irandreds of Xegroes were located. Eoth were born 
in Jamaica, and had been waited upon by slaves from their 
infancy ; were accustomed to the system, and taught to consi- 
der it right and lawful. Eut even under such circumstances, 
the light of the gospel, and the personal experience of its 
saving power, awakened in their hearts feelings of pity and 
compassion for their people. They felt the claim which their 
slaves had upon them, and as early as 1822, they applied to 
the Brethren to have a missionary stationed at Hopeton. The 
Brethren frequently visited there, and some years after, in 



73 

1827, a mission station was established at Xew Carmel, in 
the immediate neighbourhood of Hopeton ; the land being 
made over to them by ITr. Scott, who, besides putting up 
some buildings for their use, largely contributed to the sup- 
port of the mission for several years. The constant and uni- 
form kindness which the brethren experienced from this pious 
gentleman and his lady, will always be gratefully remembered 
by them. At a time when the missionaries were still gener- 
ally looked down upon, they delighted in honouring them, 
and were never ashamed to own them before high and low. 
Their house was a refuge for the missionary to recruit his 
shattered health, and all that attention and christian kindness 
could do, were gladly and willingly done by them, to cheer the 
hearts of the missionaries. Two other families in these parts 
also showed them not a little kindness at that time. Ne- 
vertheless, though the brethren rejoiced that their labours 
began to be appreciated, and favoured by many, still they had 
cause to complain, as we find from their diary of Hay, 1825 : 
^^One characteristic of our calling," they write, ^^is to be 
everywhere much traduced by ungodly neighbours ; from 
which it appears that the spirit and enmity of the wicked one 
have manifested the same hatred against the gospel in every 
age of the church. The line of conduct proper for us to pur- 
sue under such circumstances, is only to be learned from the 
example of our great pattern, Jesus, and the teaching of his 
spirit." 

Fairfield had been a cofi'ee plantation. The Brethren found 
there a dwelling house much out of repair, and likewise a 
storehouse, which was afterwards converted into a school- 
room. It had formerly been the property of Brother F. Eus- 
sel, who, having come from Europe to labour as a missionary, 
abandoned his proper call, and purchased this small coffee 
plantation, . in the pursuit of the unrighteous mammon. He 



departed this life in 1804^ reconciled to Lis brethren, having 
been received again among them in the bonds of love. After 
his decease, the property fell again into the hands of its for- 
mer proprietor, Mr. Powel, from whom the Brethren purchas- 
ed it on behalf of the mission. 

The second chapel belonging to the church of the Brethren 
in Jamaica was built and solemnly opened at Fairfield, Janu- 
ary the 15th, 1826. The congregation continued steadily to 
increase ; not a week passed without application from K'egroes 
belonging to the neighbouring estates, who came and request- 
ed to be instructed. These jN'egroes were exceedingly igno- 
rant ; even the name of Jesus had not been heard of by many 
of them, but they said: ''We come to hear and to learn.'' 
If these inquirers continued to attend the public services, and 
thus proved that a work of grace was carried on in their 
hearts, they were taken into the class of catechumens, and 
received instruction for baptism. The Brethren never admin- 
istered baptism as a mere formal rite ; they made it con- 
ditionally dependent on an earnest desire to know the Saviour ; 
and a real willingness, from love to him, to make a public 
confession of faith. "Where they found this principle was 
wanting, an individual might attend the church for years 
without being admitted to baptism. This explains such pas- 
sages in their diary as : ^' Our servant-girl, aged sixteen 
years, departed this life yesterday. She had never been bap- 
tized, as she never applied for it in earnest." Adults, after 
being baptized, became members of the church, and then at- 
tended a course of instruction for the holy communion, before 
they were admitted to that ordinance. As early as 1828, the 
attendance at the house of God was frequently so numerous 
that many could find no accommodation ; and there being 
generally two or three brethren stationed at Fairfield, one of 
them, or a pious planter and warm-hearted friend of the 



15 

Brethren, Mr. T ; -would preach under the'shade of some 

large fig trees which were near at hand, and served for the 
accommodation of those who could not find a place in the 
church. During the week, and likewise on the Sabbath 
day, if a brother was at liberty, he went out to preach in 
some of the estates in the neighbourhood, as at the Isle, 
or in the Savannah, which led afterwards to the establish- 
ment of separate stations. Being set free from all worldly 
encumbrances, they were now at liberty to prosecute the 
work of the mission without let or hindrance, and they de- 
voted all their energies to the spread of the gospel and the 
salvation of souls. 

A serious loss befel the mission in the year 1825. Two 
missionaries and their wives, the Brethren and Sisters Berger 
and Hague, died of fever within a month. The latter, Br. 
and Sr. Hague, had only recently arrived fi:om Europe, and, as 
it appeared, contracted an infectious fever soon after landing at 
Kingston, which only developed itself after their arrival at 
Fairfield, and by which, likewise, Br. and Sr. Berger were car- 
ried off. Their end was peace. They are buried in the garden 
at Fairfield. Br. Hague, an excellent artist, left a weU-executed 
pencil drawing of the crucifixion, which to this day adorns 
the hall of the mission-house at Fairfield. 

The congregation at ^N'ew Eden likewise continued to in- 
crease and prosper. Many slaves from the mountains came 
to hear the gospel, and were in turn visited by the mission- 
aries, who found among the owners of estates in the Mile- 
guUy, many warm friends to encoui^age them in their labours. 
The love and attachment of the Negroes to the Brethren were 
evinced on such occasions in the most lively manner. They 
would shout for joy when they saw the missionary coming, 
would suiTound him in crowds ; and there was no favour he 
could ask them which they would not grant him willingly, 



76 

if in their power. The church at J^ew Eden had soon to be en- 
larged, and still proved much too small to accommodate the 
crowds which attended. Br. Baker, who laboured in that 
station for fourteen years, was much beloved by the people, 
and to this day they speak of him with affection. 

In Mesopotamia, and at Irwin, where the missionaries faith- 
fully continued their labours, their success was not so remark- 
able until 1828, when Br. Light removed from Irwin estate, 
and built the station called Irwin HiU. The land had been 
made over to the Brethren for that purpose, and the church 
was opened July 27th, 1828. By this step hindrances were 
removed which only an eye-witness could fully understand. 
Before this change, the missionary living on the estate, and 
in the same house with the manager and his associates, had 
to witness their immoral life, and to endure the sight of dances 
and profligacy in the very yard, against which he had no reme- 
dy, except to beseech and entreat. Slaves from other estates 
seldom ventured to visit him at this place ; because if seen they 
were generally denounced to their masters. It was not to be 
expected that under such circumstances they would see much 
fruit of their labours. No sooner had they obtained a separate 
mission station, than the attendance on the means of grace 
increased; and in 1828 thirty-five adults were baptized, at 
the same time the number of the congregation continued to 
advance steadily. 

At Hopeton, in "Westmoreland, where the word had been 
preached since 1822, the first baptism of two adults and eight 
children took place in 1824. In 1827, a brother was appointed 
to reside at the mission station, New Carmel; and a church was 
solemnly opened in that place Nov. 16th, 1828. The people 
of the neighbourhood had been prepared to receive the gospel 
joyfully, partly by the occasional visits of the missionaries, 
and by the labours of a gentleman, Mr. C— , who frequently 



77 

invited the people to come to his house in the evening, when 
he read the scriptures and preached the gospel with power 
and unction. Several were truly awakened and converted 
under his ministry. There were at that time, even among 
the slaveholders, some to be found who were truly fellow- 
helpers in the missionary work. The congregation at l!^ew 
Carmel increased so much, that they had very soon to regret 
not having built the church of larger dimensions, than 
sixty by thirty - five feet. Several out-preaching places 
were regularly attended to, as Beaufort, Parkersbay, and 
elsewhere. At Beaufort, they built a substantial house, 
which was intended to serve both as a chapel and school- 
house. K'o sooner had they finished this building, than 
the land was claimed by another, and their title found 
to be invalid ; they were, therefore, obliged to pull down 
the building, and remove the materials, or they would have 
lost all. 

Upon the earnest solicitation of Mr. F , Br. T. Zorn, 

who had lately arrived from N"orth America, went to reside 
upon his property, Spring vale, in February, 1830, to instruct 
his slaves. The year after, a piece of land for the establish- 
ment of a mission- station was offered by the proprietor of Y. 
S. sugar plantation, adjoining Spring-Isle, which the Breth- 
ren thankfully accepted. The congregation increased rapidly, 
and a church was built and solemnly opened August 14th, 
1830, and called New Fulnec. This station is situated ten 
miles from Black river, in the parish of St. Elizabeth. 

The offers which were made to the Brethren at this time, 
for the opening of new stations, were numerous ; and consi- 
derable assistance was promised by several proprietors. At 
Trelawney they were urged by the planters to establish a vil- 
lage of free Negroes upon the same plan as that pursued by 
our Brethren at the Cape of Good Hope, but they had neither 



78 

the means nor the agents to accept and carry out these invi- 
tations. The work they had in hand occupied all their time, 
and demanded all their energies both of body and mind. Day 
after day they continued travelling about preaching the word, 
and visiting the sick, the old, and infirm, and in the evening 
attending to the instruction of the young. The plan they 
pursued may be stated in a few words. After having visited 
and preached several times in a new locality, they invited 
those that wished to be further instructed, to come forward 
and have their names entered as catechumens; These had 
their separate instruction meetings after the public service, 
and became candidates for holy baptism. Being baptized, 
they formed the beginning of a congregation, were regularly 
visited, attended the services at the mission station on the 
sabbath day, and at stated times, every eight weeks, they 
were conversed with individually. It has never been the 
object of the Brethren to preach only to a multitude, to collect 
large congregations, and leave them without personal instruc- 
tion. Their plan has always been, to give themselves as much 
as possible to care for individuals, to become personally 
acquainted with them, to watch over all so as to have 
the confidence of each, to know the state of their hearts, 
their views concerning Christ and his salvation, and by 
maintaining an intimate friendship with the members of the 
flock, to lead them more and more into the fellowship of the 
faithful in Christ Jesus. Tor this reason, they made it a rule 
to meet with each individual, at least once in every 
eight weeks, for spiritual conversation ; besides visiting the 
candidates occasionally at their own houses. These periodi- 
cal conversations with each individual are generally denomina- 
ted ^* The Speakings f^ and we can, j5:om experience, testify to 
the beneficial effects which this personal intercourse of the 
missionary with the members has upon the whole congregation. 



79 

Among the converts there were several who distinguished 
themselves by their devotedness and talents, and the brethren 
adopted the plan of employing them as their assistants or 
helpers. These were commissioned by the missionaries to 
watch over that portion of the flock which resided in their im- 
mediate neighbourhood, and were acknowledged by the congre- 
gation in that important character. Their office was to visit 
from house to house, to admonish, reprove, and encourage as 
the case might require, and to report to the missionary. 
They likewise held prayer-meetings in the houses of the 
members ; and when there was any one who had learned to 
read, frequently a child, he was encouraged to read a chapter 
from the scriptures, after which the helper-brother would 
offer up a prayer. Disputes between the members were 
brought before the helpers for their consideration ; but if they 
involved a breach of the commandments of God, they were re- 
ferred to the missionary for his decision. The native assistants, 
generally from ten to twenty in each congregation, met the 
missionary every four weeks, to be instructed by him in their 
duties and to report to him on the state of his charge. The ser- 
vice of these assistants, among whom are likewise females, who 
give instruction to their own sex, has been invaluable. They 
have prosecuted their labours humbly and faithfully ; and in 
the whole of my experience, I know of only four or five whose 
hearts were lifted up with pride, and but very few who were 
led astray by the deceitfulness of sin so as to come under the 
discipline of the church. Some have indeed earned a good 
report, and their names and labours deserve to be remembered- 
I shall however name only two of them, who are no more in 
this world. I shall not speak of the living, lest I should cast 
a stumbling-block in their way. At Irwin-Hill, one of the 
first converts and afterwards a helper in the congregation was 
"William Hall, a black man. He gained the con£dence and 



80 

respect of all with whom he had to do. He was treated with 
distinction while a slave, and by one of the attorneys more 
like a friend. The owner of the plantation on which he lived, 
built a house for him superior to any in the village. In the 
congregation his services were valuable : himself a truly 
converted man, he used every effort to bring others to the 
knowledge of the Saviour. He departed in 1851. At "New 
Carmel, one of the first converts, and a helper for many years, 
was Edward Hunt, who was called to his heavenly home in 
1848. A gentleman who had known him for a long time, 
and under whom he laboured as a slave, spoke of him as a 
man whose character for goodness and virtue was unble- 
mished. He was wrong however in ascribing his peaceful 
departure and good conscience to this excellency of his cha- 
racter and conduct, for, with genuine christian humility, this 
native assistant placed his dependance only on the righteous- 
ness of Christ his Saviour. By the instrumentality of these 
and other helpers, many were led to turn from their evil 
ways, to enquire the way to Zion, to visit the house of God, 
and finally to give themselves to the Saviour with all their 
hearts. A short biography of several of these helpers may be 
found in the ^' Periodical Accounts ^'^ published in London, 
volume 13. 

Until the year 1822, the Brethren had not been able to 
establish any schools ; but now it became a question with 
them, whether the time had not arrived to turn their attention 
to this important work, so closely connected with their mission- 
ary labours. The first notice of this, found in the diary of Fair- 
field, ^^April 16th, 1826," states that ^' Four children, of from 
ten to twelve years of age, have been baptized, and the wives of 
the missionaries determined to instruct them in reading and 
other useful acquirements." In a letter of Br. Ward's, Sept. 
11th, 1816, he relates how delighted he was to meet, for the 



81 

first time, with a black man at IS'ew Eden, who had learned 
to read ; but he does not state how the man had acquired this 
knowledge. In 1826, the Brethren determined to establish 
Sunday schools in all the stations, and a day school wherever 
an opportunity should offer. In this good work they were 
liberally supported by ^^The Ladies' Association, for Promoting 
the Education of the Black and Coloured Inhabitants of the 
"West Indies/' of which several members resided in Jamaica. 
Sr. Cooper, who, in 1826, with her husband dwelt on their 
property, the Cruze, near j^ew Carmel, collected a few chil- 
dren and began the first day school. In 1828, three other 
day schools were opened in the neighbourhood of xS'ew Carmel. 
And in 1829, a day school was established in the Savannah, 
near Eairfield ; and thenceforward their number continued to 
increase from year to year. Eor the missionaries to attend 
these out- station schools, except to visit them frequently, 
was impossible ; and to find regular teachers was at first 
very difficult. The only qualification required on the part 
of a teacher in that day was, to have a good character, 
and be able to read. Nothing was taught in the schools 
at this time but reading and committing scripture texts and 
hymns to memory. These schools seldom exceeded from 
twenty to thirty scholars, as they could only be attended by 
the children of free people. The Sunday schools were nu- 
merously attended by the children of the slaves. An attempt 
was made, at this time, to establish evening schools at the 
several stations for the improvement of the children ; but they 
found this such a hopeless, and almost cruel task, that after re- 
peated failures, the attempt was finally abandoned. It is easy 
to perceive that the children after being employed all day long 
in field-work, and having in the evening, after taking their 
meals, to walk one or two miles to school, were not capable 
of receiving instruction. The teachers found it impossible 



82 

t 

to keep them awake. After trying their utmost, the children 
would fall asleep, and drop from the benches. Altogether 
the evening schools presented such a disheartening and ludi- 
crous sight, that with all their zeal, the missionaries found 
they could not he continued with any hope of success. 

Among the adult slaves were some who rightly attributed 
the superiority of the white man to his greater knowledge, 
and who, coveting to be able to read the word of God for 
themselves, and if possible to equal him, exerted themselves 
to the utmost. On an estate where the Erethren were not 
permitted to preach, and instruct the slaves, a young man 
made enquiry everywhere for a book, and tlie book, and was 
informed that the bookkeeper on the estate had a ^ew Testa- 
m.ent in his possession. How to prevail on this man to deliver 
the treasure over to him, v/as his earnest study. He had a 
hen of a fine breed, which brought him much gain by raising 
game-cocks, at that time famous in the neighbourhood. With 
this hen under his arm, he went to the bookkeeper and offered 
it for the j^ew Testament. His offer was accepted, and no 
treasure was ever carried home with greater delight. By 
occasional help of one and another, he succeeded in getting a 
knowledge of the letters ; then, by dint of perseverance, he 
learned to read ; and by imitating the printed characters, 
even to write. He became a correct reader and a diligent 
student. His library continued to increase ; and as his 
knowledge grew, his intellect expanded. This man had a 
very cruel master, from whom he had to endure the most unr 
relenting persecution ; but in spite of all opposition he pros- 
pered so much, that after a few years he paid several hundred 
pounds to purchase his own freedom and that of his family. 
He then became an overseer in a sugar plantation, and, in a few 
years after, the proprietor of an estate, for which he paid a 
large sum. While he was persecuted, and for several years 



83 

after he had become a freeman, he was humble, faithful, and 
to all appearance an honour to his profession, and a miracle of 
saving grace. But when prosperity smiled upon him, and 
riches increased, they became a snare to his soul. He was 
entangled in the things of this world ; his heart became es- 
tranged from the truth ; he committed evil in the sight of the 
Lord, and that not only once or twice, but he entered upon a 
long course of sin, to the grief and abasement of the missiona- 
ries, who had entertained the brightest hopes of his usefulness. 

At the close of the year 1831, the number of persons under 
the charge of the Brethren's Church in Jamaica, including 
children and candidates for baptism, was 4,100, shewing an 
increase, since 1823, of 1800 persons. At the same time, 
there were sixteen missionaries, including their wives, en- 
gaged in this work. 

During the eight years from 1823 to 1831, the mission 
continued to prosper and extend its sphere of usefulness. 
Four new chapels and separate mission stations, at Eairfield, 
New Carmel, Irwin Hill, and New Fulnec, had been built ; 
several day and Sunday schools had been established, and the 
prospect for the future was cheering and encouraging. The 
Brethren saw and felt that the Lord had blessed their labours. 
They had reason to rejoice in the extension of the kingdom of 
God, and the conversion of many souls who were formerly the 
slaves of sin and satan, but now adorned the doctrine of our 
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by following after every good 
work, and by a walk and conversation becoming the gospel. 



CHAPTEE IV. 

1832—1838. 
:eebellion' of the slates — chaeges agaln-st the beetheex — 

EEFIJTATION AEEEST OF A MISSIONAEY BEOTHEE PFEIFFEe's 

IMPEISONMENT TEIAL AN^D EELEASE — YIJS^BICATION ADDEESS 

—INFLUENCE OF THE EEBELLION UPON THE MISSION FEMALE 

EEFUGE SCHOOL LOSS OF A CHILD — APPEENTICESHIP — SPEEAD 

OF THE GOSPEL BEAUFOET NEW HOPE NEW BETHLifeHEM 

■ — NAZAEETH LITIZ — BETHANY SCHOOLS HINDEANCES 

MAEEIAGES LEGALIZED STATISTICS. 

The year 1832 is the most eventful in the history of the 
Jamaica Mission. The efforts which had for several years 
been made in England for the abolition of slavery, the debates 
which had taken place on that question in the Eritish Parlia- 
ment, and the frequent consultations and conversations there- 
by occasioned among the planters, could not be altogether con- 
cealed from the slaves ; who imagined that the boon of civil 
liberty had already been granted by the British government, 
but was kept from them by their masters ; this feeling pro- 
duced discontent, and a premature struggle to set themselves 
free. 

Towards the close of the year 1831, the slaves in the parish 
of St. James rose in rebellion, set fire to the buildings on the 
plantations, and, in a very short time, indeed within a few 
days, thousands of Negroes in the northern and eastern parts 
of the island were in arms. Consternjation spread on every 



85 

hand. The white people fled to the coast towns, and many 
took refuge on board the vessels lying in the harbour. A 
militia of white and other freemen was raised, and hostilities 
continued for some months. The Negroes, avoiding regular 
field engagements, confined themselves to burning and de- 
stroying the plantations and bushfighting. About twelve 
white men lost their lives in this rebellion, and some hun- 
dreds of Negroes, most of whom, having been first taken pri- 
soners, were shot or hanged. 

The planters attributed the rebellion to the missionaries. 
The Baptist and Methodist ministers were loudly accused of 
being its instigators and abettors. Many of their chapels 
were occupied and sadly injured by the troops, and after- 
wards, at the close of martial law, were pulled down and 
destroyed by lawless mobs. Consternation spread throughout 
the island, and but few of the slaves dared to attend the ser- 
vices of the church. Many plantations round Irwin Hill 
were laid waste, but, owing to the exertions of the converted 
Negroes on Irwin estate, that property was preserved. Every 
effort made by the rebels to induce the slaves of this estate to 
join them was ineffectual. Though the slaves in the parishes 
of St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, and Manchester, where our 
other congregations are situated, did not rise in open rebellion, 
yet they were greatly agitated ; but being strictly watched, 
they remained comparatively quiet. However, every one 
who laid himself open to the least suspicion, was seized, con- 
fined in jail, and some were severely punished. Our mission- 
aries were likewise suspected, and openly accused by the 
planters and the house of assembly, of having occasioned 
discontent and insurrection. The private conversations 
('^speakings'') which the missionaries held with the slaves, 
were especially obnoxious to the proprietors, and they accused 
the Brethren of using these means to instil evil dispositions 



S6 

into the minds of the people. It was easy for the mission- 
aries to prove their innocence, as the plain facts, the conduct 
of their converts, and the testimony of those proprietors upon 
whose plantations they laboured, fully exonerated them. 

From the many instances of faithfulness on the part of the 
converts, I shall give a few facts, in proof of the superior 
advantages of a system of discipline, in which the most bene- 
volent attention to the outward comfort and improvement of 
the negroes is combined with constant and careful religious 
instruction. This will prove, to every unbiassed mind, a 
sufficient refutation of all the charges which were brought by 
unprincipled characters against the missionaries, isot one of 
the negroes belonging to the estates of Lennox and Hopeton, 
which are contiguous to jN'ew Carmel, was implicated in the 
late disturbances ; notwithstanding the prevalence of disaffec- 
tion, and the attempts which were alternately made to allure 
and to intimidate them, they continued faithfully to discharge 
their duty ; and, when the danger was the most imminent, 
spontaneously offered to defend the property against all as- 
sailants ; consequently no military guai;d was required on these 
estates. Even when the worthy proprietor was under the ne- 
cessity of leaving home to join the militia, he felt no hesitation 
in committing his wife and family to the protection of the 
negroes, who appeared to be proud of the trust. The con- 
duct of the negroes on Irwin estate, near Montego Bay, under 
still greater difficulties, was equally praiseworthy. 

Br. Light writes : ^* Although I am grieved to say, that 
the loss of life has been considerable to the worthy proprietor 
of Kirkpatrick, it is some satisfaction to me to know, that 
not one of otir people has been implicated." 

^^ "While martial law continued in force," writes Br. Eick- 
secker, of Mesopotamia, ^^my wife and myself were the only 
white persons on this estate, or, indeed, in the whole neigh- 



bourhood. Prom the 30th of December we saw ourselves in 
imminent clanger owing to the progress of the work of destruc- 
tion around us : yet it was a satisfaction to us to perceive, 
that all the negroes belonging to this property continued 
quietly at work, and conducted themselves throughout in the 
most exemplary manner ; instead of yielding to the solicita- 
tions of certain emissaries sent to seduce them to rebellion 
and violence, they apprehended two of the party, who ven- 
tured to come to the negro- village, and of whom one was 
provided with combustible materials." 

Er. J. Scholefield, of Xew Carmel, writes thus : ^' ^Ij mind 
was made up not to quit my post, but to remain and do my 
utmost to encourage the people to attend to their duty. 
My dear wife would not go away without me ; we therefore 
resolved to continue at the settlement, and commit ourselves 
and our dear children to the Divine protection. Our servants 
being free hired people, were obliged to join the militia, so that 
not a man was left for our protection at night. The rebellion 
spread rapidly, and the flames appeared all round us. Our only 
refuge was the Lord, whose mercy endureth for ever. Many 
of the free people of colour, whose husbands and sons were 
among the militia, came to us for shelter, so that we had 
more than forty females on the place, including the teach- 
ers and some children from the schools at Woodlands and 
the Cruze. I kept watch till half-past two o'clock every 
morning, then Er. Eenkewitz mounted guard ; but we had no 
weapon: ^prayer and faith icere our only shield. In the 
midst of all this distress, we imagined that ourselves and Br. 
and Sr. Light were the only missionaries who were in this 
dilemma. How great was our surprise and distress to learn 
that Er. Pfeiffer had been taken into custody, and was con- 
fined at Mandeville. "W^e often assembled with our few peo- 
ple, and prayed most fervently for him, nor did wc fail to 



experience the Lord's presence amongst us when so engaged^ 
Several owners of slaves sent their head-people to get advice, 
and some came of their own accord, all of whom we admo- 
nished to be faithful in protecting their masters' property to the 
last, and on no account to join the rebels ; and I am happy to 
say, they were enabled to remain faithful. Not a single mem- 
ber of our congregation, either at New Carmel or Eeaufort, was 
at all implicated : on the contrary, where we had influence 
over the majority of the Negroes, the properties were not 
burnt ; even in the Darliston ^Mountains, and the neighbouring 
district, several of our people were near losing their lives for 
their faithfulness. This was particularly the case with a man 
belonging to Mr. "Williams, who had a mascheat (a kind of 
sabre) put to his throat, but would not yield. The helper 
Brother in that neighbourhood, David Alexander Bent, a 
brown slave, was entrusted with the care of his owner's 
property, and he kept his trust so well, that ten pounds 
were offered by the rebellious negroes for his head. I feel 
thankful in being able to report that not a single place was 
destroyed within five miles of New Carmel." 

Under these circumstances, the arrest of a Missionary of 
the Brethren's church, and his indictment before a judicial 
tribunal for an offence equally abhorrent to his calling, and 
to the principles distinctly laid down for his direction, could 
not but be felt as a painful occurrence, both by his fellow- 
labourers abroad and his Brethren at home. 

On this subject, Br. Ellis writes, January 11th, 1832 : '^ Our 
attention is, at present, almost entirely engrossed by a circum- 
stance, equally unexpected and distressing to us — the arrest 
of our dear fellow-labourer, Br. Pfeiffer, and his committal to 
prison, at Mandeville, to await his trial by a court-martial. 
What the accusations against him are T have not been able to 
learn, although I have been twice at Mandeville for that pur- 



89 

pose, and to ascertain in what manner we can have an oppor- 
tunity given us of shewing their falsehood, — for false I am 
convinced they will prove to be. General Crawford, who is 
in command of this district, and with whom I have twice had 
an interview within the last two days, informs me, that writ- 
ten testimonials will be received by the court-martial ; but 
that they are bound to act upon evidence given by the wit- 
nesses they have to bring forward, whose evidence, he tells 
me, is of a serious nature. I have done, and am still doing, 
all I can to collect testimonials from Er. Pfeiffer's neighbours 
and hearers, shewing that he never has spoken a word which 
would in any shape foster a spirit of discord ; and if these are 
allowed to have their due weight, I doubt not they will en- 
tirely overthrow the charges against him, which I expect 
have been brought by some evil-disposed persons. 

^' Fortunately for tcs, the negroes belonging to our congre- 
gation in Fairfield, who have been examined hitherto, have 
aU adhered to the truth, in declaring that we have never spo- 
ken a word to them about their freedom, nor given them the 
least hint of any intended alteration in their civil condition. 
Indeed had I been aware of the breaking out of such distur- 
bances, I should have warned our people to beware of believ- 
ing the false reports, which were more or less in circulation. 

Feb. 6th, he vn:ites : " From the tenor of my last letter, you 
will be anxious to hear how Er. Pfeiffer's trial has terminated, 
and whether any more of our Erethren are in custody by 
this time. Er. Pfeiffer, I am thankful to say, was found — 
' Not guilty,' and released ; and, besides him, I am not aware, 
that the conduct of any of our number has been seriously call- 
ed in question. There is still, however, an almost universally 
prevailing opinion among the white inhabitants, that this dis- 
tressing war has been brought on by religionists ; and that 
any one who is professedly a preacher can be innocent, is a 



90 

problem whicli, I suppose, some would not believe, even 
though it were mathematically demonstrated to them." 

The following are the leading facts in B)\ Pfeiffers case. 

Br. Pfeiifer being stationed in the service of the mission at 
New Eden, had insisted upon it, '^ that the instructions of the 
proprietor of Foster's estates should be duly observed, and that 
the slaves should be allowed time to attend the services of the 
church on the sabbath day." Instead of this they were compel- 
led to work during crop time without intermission, even on that 
day. After repeated remonstrance, the missionary had threaten- 
ed to report this utter disregard of the proprietor's instructions. 
This brought upon our brother the deep hatred of the attor- 
ney, and several other gentlemen in the neighbourhood. And 
the time had now arrived when they might gratify their ma- 
lice, and revenge themselves upon him. To compass his de- 
struction, if possible ; among the slaves who had occasionally 
attended Er. Pfeiffer's ministry, four were found to wit- 
ness against him. At a later period these slaves confessed 
their sin with deep sorrow, and stated what wicked means 
had been made use of to induce them not only to swerve 
from the truth, but to assert the most gross falsehoods. The 
accusation against him was, that '^ in the public service, on the 
first of January, 1832, he had called upon the people to rise, 
to use every means to deliver themselves from bondage, and to 
become free men." On Saturday, the 7th, his house at ]!^ew 
Eden was suddenly surrounded by a troop of thirty dragoons, 
commanded by Lieutenant Hogg, and, without being per- 
mitted to take a change of clothes, under a heavy fall of rain, 
he was hurried off to a place called Oxford, on the confines of 
the parishes of St. Elizabeth and Manchester, experiencing, as 
might be anticipatepl from the excitement prevailing against 
all missionaries, the most abusive treatment by the waVo 



91 

Here he remained till tlie afternoon of Sunday, when he was 
ordered off, under an escort of twelve men to j\Iandeville, the 
principal place in the parish of Manchester, which is situated 
in another county. He arrived there in the middle of the 
night, and the jail being already filled with prisoners, he was 
confined in the gallery of the parish church, and left for two 
days without any food, until hunger, and a painful swelling 
in his face, reduced him to great distress. After being thus 
cruelly neglected, he was supplied with bread rolled in sand. 
In this miserable condition, he was informed by one messen- 
ger after another, that he was to be shot in a few days. This 
was a severe trial of his faith, and he often bowed his knees 
at the throne of grace, to implore the protection of him who 
is able to save to the uttermost. On one such occasion, his 
eyes fell on an old torn book, lying under one of the benches ; 
he took it up, and found that it was part of a prayer-book. 
This was a great consolation to him. He believed that his 
prayer was heard, for by this means the Lord had sent him 
comfort. That old worn-out prayer-book brought him con- 
solation. He could now read portions of the gospels and 
epistles, which were like balm to his afflicted soul. There he 
was surrounded by evil-minded, wicked, and ungodly men ; 
separated from his brethren, who were not permitted to hold 
any communication with him ; but he felt that God was his 
refuge — ''A very present help in the time of trouble." He 
felt convinced that the Lord would deliver him out of the 
hands of his deceitful and cruel persecutors. As the day of 
trial came on, his cry to the Saviour for help became more 
fervent. Still, he had learned to say, ^^ Father, not my will, 
but thine, be done.'' 

In this way, while confined in the gallery of Vaudeville 
church, Br. Pfeiffer, with confidence committed his cause to 
God. The evening before his trial, at nine o'clock, sitting 



92 

quite alone, his heart lifted up in prayer to the Lord for help, 
he heard footsteps in the gallery stairs, and looking up, recog- 
nized an officer of the militia stationed at Mandeville, who 
thus addressed him : ^' Mr. Pfeiffer, nohody must know that 
I am here. You will not betray me. I am not a religious 
man ; I care nothing for your religion ; but I am an honour- 
able man, and I hate to see the dishonourable means that are 
made use of for your destruction. Tou are betrayed ; every- 
body is against you ; even your lawyer deceived you when he 
said, * You need not send for witnesses to clear your charac- 
ter, for that they would be of no avail.' I tell you, they will 
shoot you tomorrow, unless a messenger be sent this very night 
to St. Elizabeth, to bring as many witnesses on your behalf 
as possible." '' But,'' replied Br. Pfeiffer, '' what shall I do ? 
I have neither paper, pencil, nor ink, to write a letter." ^^ I 
have thought of that," said his visitor ; '^ here are paper and 
pencil." " But," said the missionary, '^ I have nobody to 
send, "Who will go on a message for me ?" '^ I will care 
for that," was the reply of the officer; ^^I will send one of 
my soldiers, as though he was carrying an important de- 
spatch from the government to St. Elizabeth ; only, do not 
beti^ay me, or I am a lost man." This plan was carried out; 
half-an-hour after, one of the troopers was riding in all haste 
to St. Elizabeth, where he arrived by one o'clock ; and so 
w^ell was the business conducted, by the person to whom the 
letter was addressed, that at three o'clock, at least forty per- 
sons were on their way to Mandeville ; and next morning, 
at eight o'clock, when Br. Pfeiffer was brought into court for 
his trial, to the astonishment of his cruel persecutors, these 
witnesses requested to be examined for the defence, and more 
were continually coming in to present themselves for the same 
purpose. They could not be refused a hearing, and their 
evidence exposed the falsehood of the charge made against 



93 

him so completely, that a verdict of acquittal, could not 
he withheld. 

Thus the Lord answered the prayer of his servant in a most 
remarkable manner. The enemy was put to shame, and he 
was delivered out of the hands of them that hated him. The 
Brethren never exposed, as it well deserved, all the devices of 
his enemies against him. They have been content to leave them 
to their own reflections, and the mercy of the Lord. Most of 
them are no longer in the land of the living, and the few that 
still remain, think and feel very differently. They have al- 
ways remained ignorant of the real cause of Er. Pfeiffer's de- 
liverance ; and, to the best of my knowledge, this is the first 
public intimation that has ever been given of it. 

As soon as Er. Pfeiffer's arrest became known in England, 
every effort was made for his release, and an order obtained 
from the colonial office to the government of Jamaica, to delay 
the execution of any harsh sentence. But it is not likely that 
this would have been of any avail to him, as the sentence, if 
it had been passed, would have been executed long before it 
was possible for the order to arrive. 

Er. Ellis, writing on this painful subject, says : ^^On Monday 
morning, Jan. 9th, I heard of Er. Pfeiffer's arrest, and hastened 
to Mandeville, which is only about seven or eight miles distant 
from Fairfield. I was permitted to see him in the presence of 
two officers ; and had an interview with General Crawford, but 
could not be informed for what he was imprisoned, nor when 
the trial was to take place. As I was told that this depended 
on despatches from St. Elizabeth's, and it was uncertain when 
they might arrive, I thought it best to return to Mandeville 
on Tuesday morning, (the 10th), hoping, at least, to 
have the same privilege I had enjoyed the preceding day, of 
conversing with the prisoner ; but this time, I was neither 
allowed to see him, nor to speak to him, nor to communicate 



94 

"^ith him by writing. I was meanwhile informed, on high 
authority, that the prisoner would not be allowed to bring 
personal evidence to witness in his behalf, but that the only 
thing which could possibly be allowed, would be written 
testimonials. On applying to General Eobertson, he in- 
formed me, that such evidence would be of oio avail before 
a court-martial. On Wednesday, the 11th, I did not go 
to Mandeville, as I had been ordered away from the place 
on the preceding day ; however, in the evening, I receiv- 
ed a few lines fiom Br. Pfeiffer, informing me that his trial 
was to come on, on the following day, at ten o'clock. Ey 
.this time I had learnt so much of court-martials, as to be 
aware that we could defer the proceedings, till we had had 
sufficient time to summon witnesses on the part of the 
accused. This was accordingly done ; and the court, which 
assembled on the 12th, was adjourned till the following Mon- 
day, the 15th. 

'^ "We might, had we but known it, have demanded a copy 
-of the charges against Br. Pfeiffer, and a list of the persons 
by whose evidence they were to be supported : this would 
have saved the trouble and expense of calling so many wit- 
nesses, and would, at the same time, have enabled us more 
fully to refute the accusations against him. As it was, we 
went to trial, without knowing one of the witnesses for the 
prosecution, or what falsehoods or absurdities they were about 
to bring forward. On IVTonday, the 15th, about twelve 
o'clock, the court opened ; and, after the usual forms were 
gone through, one Sarah Wilson, a slave, belonging to Glen- 
head, was brought in, who deposed, ' that she heard Mr. P. 
say, at Christmas, that negroes were to be free, and theLt free 
would soon come ; that they were to come down on Xew 
Year's Day, and attend church the same as usual. That when 
they went on that day, Mr. Pfeiffer had said, loud enough for 



$5 

all in the church to hear, that, if they did not now take their 
freedom, they would never get it, and that they must come 
down again next Friday/ Another slave from the same place, 
called Ellen Dohie, who was excluded for adultery, at least 
six years ago, and who never attends church, told much the 
same kind of lies, with the addition, ^ that ]Mr. Pfeiffer had in- 
formed them, if they worked on Monday, the 2nd of January, 
they would have to work till their death.' These two wit- 
nesses did not, however, agree in their evidence, as Sarah 
declared that ^ Ellen was sick on Xew Year's Day, and was not 
at church,' though Ellen pretended to tell much of what she 
had heard on that dai/y and presently after admitted, ^ she did 
not hear it with her own ears.'' One John Sutton was then 
called in, and deposed that ' he had heard !M!r. P. say at church, 
about five weeks lefore Christmas, they must keep on pray- 
ing, for what had been so long promised them would come 
soon now. They would soon be freed from slavery in this 
world, if they kept on praying, and would be rewarded in 
heaven. Heard negroes from Two-mile Wood say — "What 
does Mr. Pfeiffer tell us now (when they had struck work) 
we are to work for, when he told us before we were to be 
free r' Rohert Wilson, another freeman, was then called in, 
and stated somewhat to the same effect as the rest; only, he 
mentioned ILr. Pfeiffer's visit to Two-mile Wood to have taken 
place at a different time from what Sutton had stated. One 
of the witnesses also stated, that ^ ICr. P. had said — I have 
now armed you with the word of God, no bullet can hurt you.' 
Had Pr, Pfeiffer been assisted in his cross-examination of the 
witnesses for the prosecution, or even in the examination of 
his own, by any person accustomed to the task, I will venture 
to assert, that his accusers would have been signally confoun- 
ded and put to shame. Yet, notwithstanding the disad- 
vantages under which he laboured, the truth burst forth ; 



96 

yet it is not unto us, but unto God's name, that all the praise 
is due. The whole of both Tuesday and Wednesday was 
occupied in taking evidence in Er. Pfeiffer's favour, and 
there yet remained several persons who were not called ; 
indeed, we could have summoned witnesses who would have 
employed the court till now, all declaring, that, ' though con- 
stant attendants at 'New Eden chapel, they never heard Br. 
P. mention a word about the slaves being made free ; but, on 
the contrary, always heard him tell them, they should be 
obedient to their masters, and faithful in the performance of 
every duty required of them.' 

^' The next morning, Er. P.'s defence was read by the De- 
puty-Judge-Advocate, and after a little consultation, a verdict 
was returned of — ' !N'ot guilty.' 

'^During this anxious period, Sr. Pfeifferand children took 
refuge with us, at Pairfield, and Er. Pfeiffer, after his release, 
joined them, and remained a fortnight longer with us, for the 
restoration of his health and spirits." 

On March 16th, Er. Pfeiffer writes : '^ The celebration of 
the Passion-week and the Easter festival, was peculiarly 
blessed to our negro flock. The services on Good Friday were 
well attended, and a general emotion was manifested among 
all present, while we knelt in spirit round the cross of our 
dying Eedeemer, and devoted ourselves anew to Him, who 
loved us, even unto death. The negroes said one to another, 
as they came out of church — ^ this was a happy meeting.' On 
Easter Sunday, a very great number attended our services, so 
that I was obliged to preach twice in succession. Already 
before daybreak our church was crowded. It was a truly 
blessed day to us all : our Saviour manifested himself to our 
souls as He did to the mourning disciples, as our risen and 
ever-living Eedeemer. The day was particularly solemnized 
by the baptism of seven adults, all belonging to Elim, among 



97 

whom was a blind negro ; two were at the same time received 
into the congregation. Notwithstanding some discouraging 
circumstances, and various defects, too easily discoverable both 
in ourselves and the negroes committed to our care, I may 
venture to say, that the prospect before us is altogether of a 
very promising kind. On several of the estates around us 
there are, I trust, not a few who are genuine followers of 
Christ, earnestly desirous of living for him, and glorifying 
his name ; but, as you justly observed, the work in which 
we are engaged calls for patience, perseverance, and fervent 
prayer. 

^' You will be pleased to hear that our day-school is going 
on satisfactorily. We had lately eight who could read the 
Testament well, of whom five have since left ; fourteen read 
easy lessons; thirteen are in words of two syllables, and 
twelve are learning the alphabet ; of these thirty-five belong 
to the Bogue. 

'^That the negroes on this estate behaved well during the 
unhappy insurrection, will be a cause of thankfulness to the 
worthy proprietors. They merely left off work for a few 
hours, in consequence of being threatened with the destruc- 
tion of their houses and cane-pieces, by the insurgents. How- 
ever, when I went over to them, and begged them to return 
to their duty, they complied without much hesitation. On 
the adjoining estates the members of our congregation like- 
wise conducted themselves properly ; but you will have heard 
with pain, that this was not the case with a number of those 
who reside in the mountain district. Of the great and most 
unexpected trouble in which I have been personally involved, 
you will have heard some particulars from Br. EUis ; I, there- 
fore, the more willingly omit any further reference to it. 
Our feelings in regard to it, are, I trust; correctly expressed 

G 



98 

in the exclamation of an afflicted patriarcli of old — Shall we 
receive good at the hand of tlie Lord^ and shall we not receive 
evil ? Pray for us, that a large measure of grace and wis- 
dom may bo imparted to us at this critical juncture; and 
that our faith and confidence in God our Saviour may be 
strengthened. '* 

March 23rd, Er. Pfeiffer again writes : '^ Our congregation, 
I regret to state, is much scattered, in consequence of the late 
unhappy rebellion. The negroes are prohibited from leaving 
their estates without a passport, which is not easily obtained. 
Thus our church is principally attended by the negroes from 
the neighbouring properties ; and, as it is crop-time, I cannot 
expect many of them to come. That some of our church 
members have proved unfaithful in the late rebellion, is a 
source of great distress to us. I am sure, that the proprietors 
cannot feel more about it than we do. that the good Shep- 
herd and Bishop of our souls may bring back the sheep who 
have strayed from him, and lead them into his fold again. 
Two negroes belonging to New-Eden congregation were exe- 
cuted. The feelings of our hearts, when we heard it, I can- 
not describe. It is remarkable that the negroes who joined 
the rebels, were chiefly such as had given evidence of a very 
lukewarm state of heart, principally people who were tu-ed of 
going to church, and seldom attended. They have caused us 
a great deal of trouble for the last two years. I often ex- 
horted them to repent, and to seek the Lord, from whom they 
had strayed ; but it seemed as if their hearts were hardened, 
so that my exhortations found no entrance. A proprietor 
from one of those places where the negroes rebelled, and many 
of whom attended our church, called on us about eight weeks 
before Christmas. He inquired my opinion of his negroes. 
According to his wish, I gave him a candid statement, and 
told himj that it was my opinion that his negroes were tired 



99 

of coming to churchy and that they were leading at home an 
immoral and unchristian life ; that we had been under the 
painful necessity of excluding some already from our con- 
nexion, and I was afraid that many more would follow. After 
the rebellion, I saw this gentleman again, and he remembered 
our conversation. 

^'Er. and Sr. Eenkewitz are here with us, for the purpose 
of taking my duties for a few weeks, whilst I visit West- 
moreland, for change of air. I have been suffering severely 
from boils, since my confinement at Mandeville, and have not 
yet recovered ; but I hope in the course of eight or ten days, to 
be so far restored to health, as to be able to set out upon our 
journey to ]N"ew Carmel." 

Er. Light writes : ^' Our dear and worthy Mends, the Eev. 
Mr. Murray and his wife, Missionaries of the "Wesleyan So- 
ciety, who so kindly gave us shelter during the awful period 
of last January, have for some time past been prevented from 
exercising their ministerial duties, their chapel being shut up 
and their congregation forbidden to assemble to edify each 
other. They have of late attended our public services. Last 
Sunday, with about thirty of their communicants, they join- 
ed us at the Lord's Supper. It proved to them, as well as to 
ourselves, a very refreshing season." 

jN'otwithstanding the weight of evidence demonstrating the 
innocence of our missionaries regarding this unhappy re- 
bellion, still, the accusations against the Brethren were, so 
openly made, that they felt themselves compelled publicly 
to refute these charges. A vindication of their conduct may 
be seen in the ^^ Periodical Accoimts,''^ of April 1832; and 
as it is an interesting document in the history of the Ja- 
maica Mission, its republication in this x^lace may not bo 
considered irrelevant. 



100 

'' Remo?^strai?'CE of the Missmiaries of the United Eretheen in 
Jamaica, against the Reioort of the Committee of the Hoitse of 
Assembly, on the sulject of the late Relellion ; presented in 
April 1832. 
'^ THE House of Assembly of Jamaica, have, through the Ee- 
port of the Committee, appointed to investigate the causes 
which led to the late rebellion, condemned the preaching and 
teaching of the United Brethren (or Moravians), as having 
conduced to that calamity, by the following assertion : ^ The 
preaching and teaching of the religious sects called Baptists, 
Wesleyans, and Moravians, had the effect of producing in the 
minds of the slaves a belief that they could not serve both a 
spiritual and temporal master ; thereby occasioning them to 
resist the lawful authority of their temporal, under the delu- 
sion of rendering themselves more acceptable to a spiritual 
master.' We firmly believe that the above charge is without 
foundation. The preaching and teaching of the United Breth- 
ren (or Moravians), as is well known to all unprejudiced men 
possessing opportunities for correct observation, have a ten- 
dency directly opposed to the above assertion. Can it be be- 
lieved, that the doctrine of Christ Jesus our Lord, who hum- 
bled Himself to become a servant for our sakes, (for this is 
our theme continually) should render a servant, a slave, un- 
faithful to an earthly master, while studious of pleasing his 
Heavenly master ? Do we, indeed, preach that a slave can- 
not serve his earthly and his heavenly master at the same 
time ? Ear be this from us. We not only teach submission 
and obedience to the powers that be, as unto magistrates, but 
we likewise faithfully inculcate the Apostolic precept, 1 Pet. 
ii. 18, 21. ' Servants, he oledient to your masters, not only to the 
good and gentle, lut aho to the froward, for Christ suffered for 
us, leaving us an example to follow His steps ;' and a refractory 
servant, should he continue disobedient, is as sure to meet 



101 

with the exercise of church discipline, as those who are found 
guilty of other offences. For the further vindication of our 
character, but especially for the future prosperity of our 
missionary work, we deem it necessary to add the following 
observations, which will shew upon what untenable grounds 
the above opinion of the Committee of the House of Assembly 
has been formed. 

^n. The evidence before the Committee was entirely ex 
'parte; not one of our body was examined as to our doctrines 
and proceedings \ neither was enquiry made of our friends or 
constant hearers^ as to the nature of our public and private 
instructions, and the effect thereby produced upon the minds 
and conduct of their slaves. In truth, the Eeport was fram- 
ed in direct opposition to the unequivocal testimonies of some 
of the most respectable gentlemen in the island, who had the 
moral courage to declare their unbiassed sentiments. 

^^2. As the evidence upon which the Missionaries of the 
United Brethren have been thus publicly condemned, has 
never been published, we presume it could only be derived 
from private accusations of negro-slaves, or, from the admitted 
and deeply regretted fact, that some of our members were, by 
listening to mischievous reports, for a short time, drawn aside 
from their duty. Against the former kind of evidence, we 
most solemnly protest, if any such existed ; for, in common 
justice, these witnesses should have been confronted with the 
accused party, that the truth or falsehood of their statement 
might have been ascertained ; the more so, as the lamentable 
habits of equivocation of most slaves, especially in times of 
peril, are well known. 

'^ 3. In explanation of the admitted fact, that ^few of our 
members did abandon their employ for a day or two, (without 
however committing a single act of violence) while the vast 
majority remained quietly at their work, the following remarks 



102 

are necessary. The negroes, on several properties in the im- 
mediate vicinity of those on which our people had failed in 
their duty, had struck work, and, though visited by the 
military, continued re&actory. Messengers from these pro- 
perties, and even from a greater distance, threatened the 
more peaceably disposed negroes with the burning of their 
houses, and the destruction of their property, if they conti- 
nued to work ; and these intimidations, added to the assurance 
that their neighbours, who had ceased to work, had not 
been punished by the military, unfortunately led them to 
follow this bad example ; which was the more easy, as all 
the free people were absent on military duty. Credulity was 
the origin of their offence. They believed the current report, 
that the king had made them free j listened to the cajoling of 
designing negroes, were strengthened in their belief by the 
impunity of their neighbours, and thus became delinquents. 
But they committed no acts of violence, and shewed no signs 
of hostility to their owners. 

'^4. In most of our congregations however, and those near- 
est to the main seat of rebellion, (j^Tew Carmel, New Fulneck, 
Mesopotamia, Malvern, and Beaufort's,) not even a single 
member was implicated ; whilst some, who did not belong to 
our church, and d.few of those who had been but a very short 
time under instruction, were unfortunately hurried along by 
the general excitement. Whole properties, where the Breth- 
ren have been favoured to sow the seed of the gospel without 
restraint, remained perfectly quiet, while fires were blazing 
within a few miles of them, and no military were in the vici- 
nity for several days ! On one estate, which was left entirely 
deserted by the proprietor removing to the town with his 
family, the negroes guarded his house and effects, and were 
determined to defend it to the last, though the rebels burned 
several houses within a mile of them \ and the proprietor de- 



I 



103 

clared on his return, that he had not lost the smallest trifle. 
Indeed, we have been credibly informed, that the rebels de- 
clared they could make no progress, when they came to the 
Moravian congregations I Many instances of individual fide- 
lity might also be mentioned, from which we select a few. 
The two negroes belonging to Mesopotamia estate in West- 
moreland, whose names are registered among those who are 
to receive public rewards from the Colonial Government, with 
three others who helped to secure two armed rebels, are mem- 
bers of our Church, and received from the resident missionary 
the passport with which they conducted their prisoners to 
Savanna-la-Mar. 

''On another property , a rebel of some notoriety was 
apprehended by the exertions of the helper, and several mem- 
bers of the church ! Another communicant member conduct- 
ed himself so well during the revolt, that his master intends 
giving him his freedom ! An estate could also be mentioned 
where we have only a single member, and he alone stood firm, 
when all the rest absconded I Xot to multiply instances, we 
will mention but one more. A member of our church secured 
his own daughter, and placed her under the immediate eye 
of his master, a gentleman of known kindness and humardty, 
because she had made use of some suspicious expressions I 

''5. Our Helpers, or native assistants, being particularly 
noticed in the Eeport, as having assisted in bringing about 
the late awful calamity, by an abuse of their office, it is neces- 
sary to advert to the charge in a particular manner. "Without 
dwelling further on the fact, that a number of free persons, 
themselves slave owners, sustain the office of Helpers, several 
of whom received the warmest commendation from their offi- 
cers, for their conduct in the ranks during the late rebellion, 
we shall notice the meritorious behaviour of our slave Help- 
ers, One was left in charge of his master's house and effects 



104 

all the time he was absent on military duty ; and he maintain- 
ed his post manfully and faithfully, although there was no 
military force for several miles round, and the rebels, who 
were within a mile of him, had, it is affirmed, offered a re- 
ward of thirty dollars for his head ! Another helper took care 
of his master's house as long as he could, and when over- 
powered by numbers and taken prisoner, he contrived to make 
his escape, and to give very useful and accurate information of 
the numbers and position of the revolted slaves. His wife^ 
also a helper, managed, in the meantime, to secure a great part 
of her master's furniture and effects in her own house. On 
another property, it was principally by the exertions of the 
helper, (not the driver,) that the negroes were induced to turn 
out to work again, after having struck for a day or two ! — 
The helper on TVilliamsfield, St. James's, lamented that there 
were not ten like-minded with himself on his master's pro- 
perty, ' for,' said he, ^ had there been so many with me, my 
master's property would never have been burned.' And when 
the rebels, from twelve to fifteen in number, came from the 
adjacent estate, brandishing their mascheats, he went down to 
meet them, demanding their errand ; and when they ordered 
him away, raising their mascheats against him, he bent his 
neck towards them, to shew he was not to be intimidated, 
while others, who had been considered trustworthy, with- 
drew to save their lives. TVehave not any doubt, that to the 
firmness and good conduct of the helper at Irwin, together 
with the watchfulness of a few others, may be attributed 
the stand made by that estate, against every attempt of their 
unfaithful neighbours to injure or destroy the owner's pro- 
perty. Of the rest of our helpers, much might be said to 
insure for them the praise and esteem of all who rejoice in the 
good effects produced by Christian instruction, but we forbear. 
There was but one exception, and this man, being himself 



105 

beguiled by others, deceived us, and proved unfaithful by 
absconding. On repeated examination, even he however de- 
clared the entire innocence of the missionaries, and persisted 
to the last in asserting, that he had brought all upon himself ! 

" 6. How little we deserve the charge made against us, 
will also appear from the fact, which can be fully substan- 
tiated, that on the breaking out of the insurrection, several 
proprietors sent some of their principal slaves to the neigh- 
bouring missionary, to ask his advice in their critical situation ; 
and that without exception, the negroes on those properties 
remained quietly at their work, though the incendiaries were 
not many miles distant from them. 

^^ 7. Er. Pfeiffer's trial by a court martial, on the charge of 
seditious preaching, forms a prominent feature in the late in- 
surrection. The improper and incomplete statements con- 
cerning that trial, which have gone forth, may perhaps have 
left a shadow of doubt, as to his innocence, on the minds of 
some persons who have only cursorily perused the minutes 
of the trial, &c. ; and in order to obviate this, the following 
remarks are offered. All the gentlemen of the bar were at 
the time on military duty, and Er. Pfeiffer, who was entirely 
ignorant of the proceedings of a court martial, very naturally 
made several material omissions which might have proved 
fatal, if he had not had such a number of witnesses in his 
favour. "When the court was opened on Thursday, January 
12th, and afterwards adjourned to Monday 16th, he was not 
aware that he could have demanded a copy of the charges 
against him, and therefore this was not obtained. In this 
uncertainty, he met his trial on Monday, January 16th, with 
such witnesses as he had hastily summoned on vague rumours 
of the charge to be brought forward, but not at all prepared 
to meet any specific accusation. But even in this unequal 
conflict, truth prevailed, and he was acquitted ! It should 



106 

farther be known, that Br. Pfeiffer, on account of the state of 
his health, was obliged to close his defence much sooner than 
he would otherwise have done, for he had at least ten wit- 
nesses still in attendance, and might have summoned many- 
more. Again, how preposterous was the charge against him I 
' That he had in open Church, before hundreds of people, among 
whom were free persons, themselves slave owners, told the JS'e- 
groes they were free,' thus exposing himself to immediate 
detection and punishment ! But this charge was distinctly 
disproved ; and if Br. Pfeiffer had been aware of the nature 
of the evidence, he could have proved that Eobert Wilson, 
though he shewed himself a few times on the mission premises, 
never put his foot in the church ! —Sutton declared, ^ he had 
heard Mr. Pfeiffer express seditious sentiments about six 
weeks before Christmas, in an evening meeting,' when it after- 
wards appeared in evidence, 'that he' (Sutton) 'had not been in 
the church for the space of two years !' and this might have 
been fully confirmed. And what was the character of the 
witnesses against Br. Pfeiffer ? Sutton, a prisoner in irons, 
was escorted by a company of militia to Mandeville from the 
place of his confinement, gave his evidence against Br. Pfeiffer, 
was taken back to his former quarters, tried, convicted 
of having excited to rebellion the slaves on Elim estate, 
(one of the estates on which Br. Pfeiffer labours,) condemned, 
and shot ! Eobert Wilson is strongly suspected to be a run- 
away slave, though calling himself free, and of having stirred 
up the Wegroes on Lancaster estate to revolt ; and we now 
know, that, on the day and at the time when he professed 
to have heard Br. Pfeiffer preach fireedom to the slaves, he 
was several miles distant, on a property where his mother 
and family are all slaves. Both of these witnesses were 
doubtless perjured in asserting their freedom. The two other 
witnesses were women from Glenhead ; one had been excluded 



107 

from the Church for gross immorality ; and the other was so 
sensible of the falsehoods she was uttering, that she did not 
once hold up her head, thereby eliciting the question from the 
Court, ' Whether she was afraid Mr. Pfeiffer would do her any 
harm ?' Besides, (which is not inserted in the official report 
of the trial,) she flatly contradicted her fellow- servant, as- 
serting that, 'the latter had not been at church on the day she 
declared she had heard Mr, Pfeiffer tell the negroes they 
were free/ In reality, Br. Pfeiffer did much to restore tran- 
quility ; and it was by his persuasions that the negroes at the 
Bogue, who struck work for a few hours, returned to their 
duty, on receiving the assurance that they would be protected 
by the military against any evil-disposed persons. 

'^8. The United Brethren possess the unequivocal testi- 
monials of some of the most respectable proprietors in the 
island, in fact of all those who are intimately acquainted 
with their system of religious instruction. They have already 
published some of these, and now annex a few others. 

^' [Here follow letters containing the most decided and 
honourable testimonies to the doctrine, character, and conduct 
of the Brethren's Missionaries in Jamaica, from the following 
gentlemen : — M. Parquharson, esq. clerk of the peace, and of 
the vestry in St. Elizabeth's ; James Miller, esq,, senior ma- 
gistrate of St. Elizabeth's, and retired colonel of the regiment ; 
L. H. Evelyn, esq., collector of His Majesty's customs at Sa- 
vanna-la-Mar ; Dr. Anderson, also a magistrate ; James Camp- 
bell, overseer on Y. S. estate ; and several others. Similar 
testimonials had been previously inserted in the Jamaica 
Courant and Kingston Chronicle, from a yet greater number 
of resident gentlemen, including the Gustos of St. Elizabeth, 
Major-General Eobertson, and seven other magistrates, among 
whom are, "W. Parquharsou, H. Scott, W. P. Cooper, and W. 
Lidjard, esquires.] 



108 

To this Vindication 'of the character and conduct of our 
missionaries, it may not be out of place to add the following 
remarks by the Editor of ^' The Feriodical Accounts ^^^ who, 
from his official position in the church, was certainly as weU 
qualified as any man of that day to form a correct opinion of this 
unhappy rebellion ; and the very trying position in which our 
brethren found themselves placed in consequence. He writes : 

^^ Amid the uncertainties and suspense which were insepa- 
rable from the state of rebellion around the missionaries, and 
particularly in a case like that of Br. Pfeiffer's, it was difficult 
to dismiss every feeling of apprehension, or to avoid exclaim- 
ing, ^ If the Lord le with us, why then is all this lef alien us J 
Yet, now that we have been permitted to see the deliverance 
which the Lord has vouchsafed unto his servant, and to re- 
joice together over the establishment of his innocence in the 
sight of all men, we would gladly shew our gratitude for 
these mercies, not merely by offering the sacrifice of praise 
and thanksgiving, but likewise by manifesting a spirit of sub- 
mission to the Divine will in all things, and by the avoidance 
of every feeling or expression that might justly be deemed 
inconsistent with the character and example of our blessed 
Master ; ' Who when he was reviled, reviled not again ; when 
he suffered, threatened not, hut committed himself to him that 
judgeth righteously,^ 

'^It may not be improper here to observe, that in conducting 
his defence, Br. Pfeiffer had to struggle with difficulties of no 
ordinary description. Not to dwell on the circumstance of 
his being a foreigner, and but imperfectly acquainted with 
the English language in ; consequence of the disturbed state 
of the country, and the distance of MandeviUe from any town, 
no legal advice or assistance was to be procured ; and none of 
our brethren were allowed to supply this deficiency. Again, 
owing to some strange misinformation, much valuable time 



109 

was wasted in the collection of written testimonials, which 
proved to be of no service whatever. And for want of a 
copy of the indictment, and a list of the witnesses for the 
prosecution, the accused was obliged to proceed to trial with- 
out having had any opportunity of meeting the charge in the 
most direct and satisfactory manner, by the selection of 
evidence best calculated to prove its falsehood as well as its 
absurdity. To show the character of the four witnesses for the 
prosecution, it will be sufficient to refer to the published report 
of the trial, and the Earl of Eelmore's despatch to Yiscount 
Goderich, of the 10th ofPebruary ; in which the melancholy 
fate of the principal evidence, John Sutton, who, very shortly 
after the acquittal of Br. Pfeiffer, was tried, condemned, and 
executed, for being an active agent in the insurrection, is 
particularly adverted to by his Lordship. 

"'' It is impossible to conclude these remarks, without an 
expression of gratitude to His Majesty's Government, for the 
protection and support spontaneously rendered to the cause of 
Missions at this critical juncture. On the first intimation of 
the revolt which had taken place, every needful direction was 
sent out by Viscount Goderich, His ^ilajesty's principal Secre- 
tary of State for the Colonial Department, to secure to the 
parties accused the benefit of a constitutional trial, and the 
further advantage of having any sentence that might be 
passed, revised by His Majesty in Council. It is hardly ne- 
cessary to add, that the application for a special interference 
in behalf of Br. Pfeiffer, which it was deemed proper to make 
on the first news of his arrest, was granted by his Lordship 
with equal kindness and promptitude.^ 

* This laudable interference of government came too late to prevent 
several hasty executions; and it would most probably have been too 
late in Br. Pfeiffer's case also, had not the Lord in his mercy provided 
a way of escape for his servant, as we have seen. — Ed. 



110 

^^ To all those generous friends in the island of Jamaica, who 
came forward, either with or without legal summons, to bear 
their testimony to the character and conduct of Er. Pfeiffer, 
and likewise to all who exercised hospitality to our mission- 
aries, during their temporary banishment from their posts, 
we beg to offer a similar tribute of grateful acknowledgment. 
The kind reception given to Er. and Sr. Light, of Irwin-hill, 
by the Eev. ITr. Murray, the Wesleyan Missionary at Mon- 
tego Bay, and his wife, will always be thankfully remembered 
by them. 

'^ We beg to assure our brethren and fellow-labourers of 
other denominations, of the deep and cordial sympathy which 
the intelligence of their heavy losses, and the personal sufferings 
of their Missionaries, during this trying period, has excited in 
our breasts. Could we serve them more effectually than by 
our prayers, we would gladly do it, for we acknowledge oui'- 
selves to be greatly their debtors ; but since this is not the 
case, we the more fervently commend the work committed to 
their instrumentality, and the servants of our common Lord 
who are engaged in it, to the gracious support, and powerful 
help of Him who hath declared, that no loeapon formed against 
his cause shall prosper ; for he that toucheth his servant, touch- 
eth the apple of his eijeT 

On the arrival of the Earl of Eelmore to take his place at 
the head of the government in Jamaica, our missionaries pre- 
sented him with the following Address : 

Tlie Addeess of the Brethren's lEssionaries in Jamaica to the 
JEarl of Belmore, and his Excellenc%fs Rephj. 

ADDEESS. 

'^ WE, the ordained Ministers of the Episcopal Church of the 
United Erethren, sent forth to preach the gospel to the negroes 
and others in the Island of Jamaica, beg leave to offer our 



Ill 

sincere congratulatioiis on your Excellency's arrival at the seat 
of your Government. 

'' We feel particularly thankful to our most gracious Sove- 
reign, for having placed us under the protection of your Lord- 
ship, and confidently hope that a steady perseverance in our 
efforts to disseminate the great truths of the Son of God, who 
^ shall speak peace to the heathen,' may meet your Lordship's 
approhation, and continue to secure to us the fair exercise of 
our religious functions, which we and our predecessors in 
Jamaica have enjoyed since the year 1754. "We shall, to the 
utmost of our power, endeavour to merit a continuance of the 
favour and indulgence granted to our Church by an Act of 
Parliament of Great Eritain passed in the twenty-second year 
of the reign of His Majesty George II. ; as well as the good- 
will and approhation of the worthy proprietors, resident in 
the vicinity of our several settlements in this island ; many of 
whom have so recently come forward with testimonials on our 
behalf. 

'^ May our gracious God vouchsafe to our beloved Sovereign 
William IV., and every branch of the royal family, his choic- 
est blessing ; and may he grant to your Lordship, and your 
esteemed Countess, uninteiTupted health and happiness, with 
a rich measure of wisdom from above, to dii^ect your Lordship 
in the important concerns of your government ; and that your 
Lordship's endeavours may be abundantly prospered, and 
crowned with success, is the sincere wish and prayer of the 
IMinisters of the Church of the United Brethren." 
HIS excelle:n'cy's eeplt. 

'^ Gentlemen, — I return my sincere thanks to the Ministers 
of the Episcopal Church of the United Brethren, for their 
congratulations upon my arrival, and their good wishes for 
the success of my government. 

^^ I am duly impressed with the paramount importance of 



112 

the general diffusion of religious instruction ; and wliilst, as 
heretofore, you can appeal to the fact that, in the true spirit 
of the gospel, you preach the doctrines of ' peace and good- 
will amongst men,' you will, by such a line of conduct, 
obtain the protection of all persons in authority, merit the 
concurrence of the proprietors residing in your vicinity, 
and best ensure the continued success of your virtuous 
endeavours.'' 

Throughout this unhappy period of rebellion, the conduct 
of the converted slaves was most praiseworthy. The preser- 
vation of life and property could, in many instances, only be 
ascribed to their interference and faithfulness. In no instance 
was any one of them led to commit acts of violence ; but on 
several estates, they joined in the general refusal of the slaves 
to go to work. This act of insubordination was, at that time, 
visited with the heaviest penalty, and consequently several 
of them were shot as rebels. The meetings of the slaves after 
sunset were strictly interdicted ; and even on the Sabbath 
day, the JN'egroes scarcely ventured to visit the house of God. 
During the first months of the year 1832, not more than 
thirty or forty would venture to attend the services of the 
church. This reign of terror was, however, of no long dura- 
tion. Hostilities subsided after two or three months, and in 
April the chapels were again filled with overflowing audito- 
ries. The apprehensions of the Brethren were allayed, their 
zeal revived, and the very same year the labours of the mis- 
sionaries were extended considerably. At Beaufort, where 
the chapel had to be removed, as already stated, they suc- 
ceeded in securing some land ; and one of the missionaries 
having been established there, this place became a regular 
station in 1832. 

Under the auspices of the '^Ladies Association for the Edu- 
cation of the people of colour," a Pemale Refuge School was 



i 



113 

established at Fairfield, in 1832. Twenty-four orphan girls 
were collected in this institution, who were instructed 
and superintended by some Aloravian sisters j&rom England. 
The governor, the Earl of Mulgrave, with his lady and suite, 
visited aod inspected this school in 1833, and patronized it. 
Lady Mulgrave soon after sent two 'Negro girls to be educated 
in this Institution, who had been rescued from slavery : the 
vessel in which they were bound for Cuba, having been ship- 
wrecked on the coast of Jamaica, near Kingston. "When 
baptized, they were called after her ladyship, Mulgrave. One 
of them became a teacher in our day-school at Bethlehem, 
and in 1842, married ^r. Thompson, a black man, who had 
been educated at Basle, in Switzerland, and was going as a 
missionary to Guinea. Several who were educated in this 
institution served in after years as teachers in our schools, 
while others became servants in respectable famiUes. The Ee- 
male Eefuge School was continued until 1844, when the 
funds of the society became low, and a training school of 
young men having been established at Eairfield, it was 
thought advisable to close it ; a resolution which was much 
regretted by many. 

One singular and sad event, in connexion with this school 
may be mentioned. Among the scholars was a little girl 
of ten years of age, an orphan child of English emigrants. 
She was very affectionate, but sickly, and being frequently 
subject to epileptic fits, was, in consequence, occasionally 
absent and melancholy. One day she asked leave to go into 
the garden ; not returning after the expiration of half-an- 
hour, she was looked for but could not be found. That 
evening, about fifty men with torches set out in search 
of her, and continued, during the night, and for several days, 
to scour the woods and rocks within two or three miles round 
Fairfield : but it was all in vain, not a trace of her could be 

H 



114 

discovered, until four weeks after, when her clothes were 
found, lying on a rock in the woods, a mile from Fairfield. 
What had become of the child, nobody could ever discover. 
It is supposed that in one of her absent and dreaming fits, she 
must have wandered into the woods, and that when night set 
in, she undressed herself, as if going to bed, and had very 
likely fallen into one of the sink-holes which abound here, 
some of them unfathomable. 

In 1834, the first step towards the entire manumission of 
the slaves was taken by the government. On the first of 
August, the system of apprentice shij) was introduceil, which 
bound the slave to work forty hours in the week for his mas- 
ter ; fixed the time of labour at eight hours a day ; and by 
allowing Saturday for the slave to attend to his garden and 
go to market, left him at liberty to attend the house of God 
on the Sabbath-day. At the same time the children under 
six years of age were declared to be free. The power of pun- 
ishing the slave was taken from the master, and a number of 
stipendiary magistrates were sent from England, to protect 
the rights of the slave. The first of August, 1834, was pro- 
claimed a general holiday, the churches were crowded, hymns 
of praise and thanksgiving resounded, happiness and joy were 
depicted in every face ; and the ministers, directing the people 
to bow in gratitude before the Lord, the giver of every good 
thing, endeavoured to give them a clear understanding of the 
relation in which they stood to their masters, and the duties 
incumbent on them. 

', It is the opinion of almost every one, who has s^en the 
working of this system, that it is much to be regretted it was 
ever introduced. By it the labouring man was taught to 
consider eight hours work in a day, and five days in the 
week, as the standard of diligence. Sloth and indolence were 
thereby sanctioned and legalized. Nevertheless, by emanci- 



115 

pating the slave from the caprice and tyranny of his master, 
this system was highly favourable to the cause of the 
mission. Henceforward all were at liberty to attend the 
means of grace, not only on the Sabbath-day, but likewise 
during the week. The evening being the only time when the 
missionaries could instruct the slaves they found themselves 
sadly impeded in their labours when forbidden to meet them 
on week-day evenings ; but now the church-bell called upon 
them almost every evening to assemble for instruction, of 
this they were not slow to avail themselves. The general 
impression among the people appeared to be, that the change 
in their outward condition was to be ascribed to the influence 
of the gospel, and the labours of the missionaries. And 
without clearly understanding the relations between cause 
and effect, they became more willing to listen to the message 
of peace, and more anxious to be instructed in the christian 
religion. 

Up to ITay 1834, the majority of the people had by no 
means been brought under the sound of the gospel. The 
number of attendants in the house of God was small com- 
pared with the bulk of the people, and the number of church 
members and communicants still smaller. There were then 
several estates where the slaves were strictly prohibited from 
attending on the means of grace, and where every transgression 
was visited with heavy punishments. Eut now these hin- 
drances were all removed, and on every hand there were open 
doors for preaching the gospel of which the Brethren readily 
availed themselves, only regretting that the number of those 
who could attend for instruction was not twice as large. '^ 

Er. Zorn writes, April 20th, 1835: ^'^iVhat times are 
these ! and what calls to work while it is day ! For these 
stirring times the Lord has supplied grace to the hearts of his 
servants to do his work with greater alacrity and devoted- 



116 

nesSj I think, tlian in former years. May we all stimulate 
each other to increasing and persevering exertion in winning 
souls for Christ." 

Around all the existing mission establishments, out places 
were formed, where the Brethren went to preach during the 
week. Several of these in time became regular mission stations. 
At Eeaufort, in the Darlington mountains, a chapel had been 
built, which was opened for public worship on the 21 st of April, 
1837. At Malvern, in the St. Cruze mountains, where the 
Brethren from Fairfield had preached for some time, and a 
missionary had been stationed since 1833, a chapel was built 
and dedicated to the service of God, on the 5th of December, 
1834, and colled JVew Betlileliem. At Parkersbay, eight miles 
from JSTew Carmel, a congregation was gathered, and a chapel- 
school-house built, called New Hope ; a brother went to reside 
there in 1835. At Nazareth, in the Manchester mountains, 
a chapel school-house was built in 1835. In the Mile-gully 
mountains, a brother went to reside in 1836 ; and on May 
7th, 1840, a chapel was opened, and the place called Bethany, 
And in the Savannah, at the foot of the Manchester moun- 
tains, where the Brethren had preached the gospel since 1804, 
a chapel was built in 1839, and called Lititz. 

However, while the Brethren rejoiced over the spread of 
the gospel, and the removal of outward hindrances, which are 
always keenly felt by man, they knew by experience, that 
these are not the most formidable to the work of grace. The 
darkness which covers the mind of man, his inability to un- 
derstand heavenly things, the natural enmity of the carnal 
mind against God, are much more difficult to overcome and 
dispel. Nothing but the light and power of the Spirit of 
God will effect this. As to the capacity of the people ta 
comprehend christian doctrine, a brother writes : '^ They 
are all children in understanding, and can scarcely receive 



117 

the plainest truths, conveyed in the plainest words. It is 
frequently distressing, after explaining in the easiest language 
some part of the gospel of salvation, to see their eyes fixed 
upon you with a vacant stare, their answers proving that they 
have not understood a single sentence. Then we must begin 
afresh, and try to make ourselves understood, perhaps by the 
aid of a figure or a simile, and sometimes we succeed in that 
manner, so far as to leave a faint impression upon their 
memory." And again : ^' Great patience is requisite in deal- 
ing with them. They need precept upon precept, and line 
upon line. If there be one error committed more frequently 
by religious teachers than another, it is taking for granted, 
from their afiirmations and apparent attention, that they 
understand the subject." 

It is difficult for a man whose intellect has been exercised 
from his youth, to form a conception of the stupidity and 
inactivity of all the mental powers of those who have grown 
up under the system of slavery. Their intellect appears al- 
together dormant; their thoughts have never travelled be- 
yond the narrow circle of their homes ; and embrace no other 
objects but bodily wants. The slave was tutored not to think, 
but to work and dig the ground. The old African negroes 
distinguished themselves still more by their incapacity of 
understanding the plainest truths. Docile and obedient, 
they would do all they were told, and comply with all the 
forms of religion as they were taught; but for some of 
them to understand the very first principles of gospel truth, 
or even to comprehend any historical event, appeared 
almost impossible. In giving them instruction, the mission- 
ary required a perseverance, simplicity, and patience which 
only love to their souls could inspire. Owing to the hea- 
thenish darkness of their minds, these poor creatures 
were sometimes guilty of blasphem.y, without appearing to 



118 

have the least idea of its awful tendency. One of the Breth- 
ren writes : '^ When I spoke to an old woman of our Saviour's 
love, as manifested by his death for the salvation of sinners, 
she shook her head and answered : ^ Is'o, no ; to ijou we look ! 
to you we look !' I 'shall never forget the horror which filled 
my heart, when an old African, whom I directed to pray to 
Jesus Christ, fell on his knees before me, exclaiming, ^' You 
are my God!" The horror and indignation with which I 
ordered him instantly to rise, appeared to teach more than 
anything I had before said." 

Twenty years ago, instances of such ignorance and stupidity 
were much more numerous than in the present day, when, 
thanks be to God, owing to a long course of instruction, by 
means of numerous schools, and information derived from their 
connexion with believers, this gross ignorance has very much 
decreased, and is gradually disappearing. Eut even at that 
time, the missionaries had often the pleasure to see that 
nothing is impossible with God ; and their journals contain 
edifying and cheering records of many poor Africans, who, 
enlightened by the spirit of God, had passed from death unto 
life ; cleaving in their last moments, with simplicity and as- 
surance of faith, to Christ their Saviour. 

In the journals of the missionaries of that time, there is 
frequent reference to the difficulty of making those under in- 
struction, understand the spirituality of the christian religion, 
and to their tendency continually to reduce religion to a mere 
form, ceremony, and outward reformation. This is a com- 
plaint common to all countries and to all ages, giving sad 
evidence of the inherent blindness and self-righteousness of 
man, and his natural disposition to reject the grace of God. 
It is therefore not to be wondered at if the sacraments, and 
especially holy baptism, was looked upon by the multitude 
not merely as a sign of inward grace, but as possessing a 



119 

virtue iu itself equivalent to the forgiveness of sins and 
everlasting life. Even among the communicants, some have 
been discovered carrying home part of the bread they had 
received, to use it in sickness as a charm to cure them. A 
missionary writes on this subject, ^' There are many, and such 
clamorous applications for the rite of baptism, by those who 
are still in the grossest spiritual darkness, that we are sorely 
tried. While we cannot conscientiously comply with their 
wishes, until we see evidences of a work of grace in their 
hearts ; we lament to say, this principle is sadly neglected 
elsewhere. A number of these applicants, to whom we refused 
this rite, until they could give some evidence of the grace of 
God, have gone to the parish church to be baptized, and now 
these poor creatures think they are christians, though they 
live just as they did before. Our prayer for them is, that 
they may be led to see that the commandments of the Lord 
are not a vain thing, but that the keeping of them is life, to 
all who know and love him." Erequently the honour and 
respectability connected with being a christian, induce them 
to request to be baptized, as one said when applying for this 
ordinance : '' ]\Iassa, me go up and down the country, and 
people take me for nolochj T"^ or some unintelligible notion 
would prompt them, as for instance, when a man on his 
death-bed said to the missionary : '' Please do baptize me ; I 
wish to die a christian sinner, and not a heathen sinner.' ' 

The increase of the churches during this time, and the 
desire to be baptized, the wish to be instructed, and the large 
attendance upon the means of grace, were not altogether the 
results of an awakening — a hunger and thirst after righteous- 
ness, — but were partly occasioned by outward circumstances, 
and the social changes in progress. ATany never advanced 
further than a name and form, or an outward compliance with 
the moral law. But in all the congregations, there were a 



120 

goodly number in whom a vital and unmistakeable change 
of heart had taken place, and whose words and actions bore 
testimony to their having become new creatures in Christ 
Jesus." 

It is a fact never yet satisfactorily explained, but one to 
which all the missionaries among the Xegro race will testify ; 
that sudden awakenings and striking conversions, accompa- 
nied by a deep conviction of sin, are scarcely ever known 
among them. In the whole course of my missionary labours 
for fifteen years in this island, I have only known three or 
four such conversions, and even then, the impressions though 
strong and powerful at the time, were not lasting. And yet, 
although these feelings, which often so strikingly manifest the 
operation of the Spirit of God, do not seem to be so deep 
and sudden, the fact of a real change of heart, — of their being 
born again, will not be denied by any one who is experienced 
in the ministry of the gospel. 

It was not until the year 1835, that the marriages of slaves 
solemnized by ministers of the Brethren's Church, were de- 
clared to be legal. Until then, neither their masters nor 
the law of the land recognized these unions as binding. 
As has been already stated, the Moravian missionaries al- 
ways required their converts, before they lived together 
as man and wife, to promise faithfulness, when they joined 
their hands with prayer and the blessing of the Lord on their 
marriage state. These marriages not , being regarded as 
legal, several who had thus been united, appeared inclined 
to take advantage of this to gratify their sensual appetites, 
and form new alliances. However in 1835, the Brethren 
called upon all in their connexion who had been privately 
united, to have their marriages regularly legalized ; and from 
that time, all marriages among our people were publicly 
solemnized. The importance of this step can scarcely be 



121 

fully realized by any one who has not witnessed the baneful 
influence of a slave code of laws. 

In 1836, a general Synod of the Brethren's Church assem- 
bled in Herrnhut, in Germany, and Br. Jacob Zorn, superin- 
tendent of the ITission in Jamaica, was called by our board 
of elders to attend, to report the state of the mission and join 
in consultation for its future welfare. He left Jamaica in 
January 1836, and returned the following year. 

Within the six years, from 1832 to 1838, no less than 
six separate mission stations had been established, and new 
congregations formed. The number of persons under the 
care of the ^Aloravian ILissionaries in Jamaica, at the close of 
1837, was 9,913, showing an increase since 1831 of 4,800 
persons. Of these, 2,100 were communicants. 

Until 1834, only the children of free people could attend 
the day schools, but as with the beginning of the apprentice- 
ship, the children of six years of age and under were declared 
free, it became on object with the Brethren to provide for 
their instruction. Assisted by a parliamentary grant for 
schools, and by "The Ladies' Association," for instructing the 
rising generation, several schools were built, and new schools 
opened; and at the close of 1837 twenty-five day schools 
were in operation, numbering 1,043 scholars, and ten Sunday 
schools, with 1,220 scholars, besides, 483 who attended the 
evening schools, amounting in all to 2,746 scholars. 



CHAPTEE Y. 

1838-1854. 

EMANCIPATIOI^ OF THE SLATES — CHAEACTEK OF THE ]S'EGEOES 

NEGEO SETTLE:!J:EiS'TS PUECHASE OF iTAEDSTON-E — BETHABAEA — 

NOEITAL SCHOOL E:SJ:IGEATI0X to GTJIXEA OBEAHISIil AXD 

MYALISM DECEASE OF FOTJE MISSIOXAEIES TISITATIOX 

BEPUTATIOIN^ to THE ITOSQUITIA THE CHOLEEA CHAXGE IN 

THE OUTTTAED COXBITIOX OF THE XEOEOES ESTABLISH:y:EXT 

OF SCHOOLS — DIACOXY STOEES — STATISTICS. 

The House of Assembly having resolved to shorten the period 
of apprenticeship two years, the first of August, 1838, was 
looked forward to with much anxiety and pleasure by all 
parties. On that day, the boon of civil liberty was to be 
fully bestowed upon the people of this land. At length the 
long-looked- for day — the glorious first of August, 1838 — 
arrived, when slavery ceased for ever in this island, and the 
captive became free. Grratitude and joy filled every heart. 
The churches and chapels were far too small to receive the 
crowds of worshippers that fiocked thither to praise and bless 
the Lord for all his mercies. 

The following [N'arrative of the celebration of that day at 
Eairfield, is given by Er. Zorn. 

'' On the eve of the day of Emancipation, we had a well- 
attended meeting, in which, with penitent confession and 
earnest supplications, we sought pardon for all the transgres- 
sions of this people, and of our land generally, beseeching the 



123 

Father of mercies to blot out of the book of his remem- 
brance the crying sins of Jamaica. During the night, parties 
of our people continued to arrive every two or three minutes, 
which kept up a continued hum of excitement and expecta- 
tion in our premises, causing us to long for the coming dawn. 
Soon after four o'clock our chapel-bell gave notice that the 
expected day was at hand ; and as soon as it was light, we 
assembled on the terrace behind the chapel, in the open air, 
and never shall I forget the sight. A.bout 1,800 jSTegroes, 
clad in white, stood in ranks, in the greatest order and silence 
imaginable ; such a sight I had never before witnessed in the 
open air. A deep solemnity, with a feeling indescribable, 
seemed to pervade the whole assembly. It is evident that all 
were anxious to testify their gratitude to God ; to acknowledge 
that the wonder-working change was entirely of his mercy; 
and they were earnestly waiting to give him the glory due 
unto his name. The service was conducted with hymns of 
thanksgiving and praise, the reading of appropriate psalms, 
and a short discourse. Br. Prince and Br. Zorn, in the name 
of the whole assembly, on bended knees, under the canopy of 
heaven, returned humble thanks to the Giver of every good 
and perfect gift; and besought his future blessing on the 
island, and on all classes of its inhabitants. "When we had 
concluded the service, our congratulations were received with 
affectionate responses ; but no noise or exuberant demonstra- 
tions of joy disturbed the solemnity of this morning scene; 
a hum of deep feeling was all that was heard for some time 
after the meeting closed. At ten o'clock we assembled for 
the second service. About one thousand persons crowded the 
chapel and the school-room ; and a still larger number was 
addressed by Br. Prince in the rear of the Piefuge schoohhouse. 
The minister endeavoured to impress upon the multitude the 
words : ^ If the Son shall make you free, ye shall he free 



124 

When allusion was made in the service to the 
advantages of mental and religious improvement which the 
Negroes now possess, the minister was agreeably interrupted 
by a buzz as if the whole multitude were moved with one 
consent to express the feelings bursting from an overflowing 
heart: ^ Yes, Massa, thank God; we do thank the Lord for it ; 
Uess the Lord P It was evident that, while the JS'egroes felt the 
obligations they were under to their christian friends in Bri- 
tain, they gratefully acknowledged that the hand of a gracious 
and merciful God had been manifested in this great change.'' 

Erom this day a new Eea in the history of Jamaica begins. 
The laws of social life by which they had been regulated 
hitherto, were now uprooted and destroyed. A new founda- 
tion was to be laid, many existing usages and customs had 
to come to nought, the framework of society was unhinged ; 
old institutions were now to be broken up and remodelled ; 
balanced upon new principles, and an order of things to be 
established, in the working of society ; with which the multi- 
tude in general had been hitherto wholly unacquainted. The 
question with many was, whether such a change could pos- 
sibly be effected, without disorder and confusion, violence and 
bloodshed ? The missionaries always affirmed, there need be 
no apprehension ; that the good character of the ISTegroes was 
sufficient security, and predicted that they would prove them- 
selves worthy of the confidence reposed in them. They were 
right. For though there were jarrings, heart-burnings, and 
agitations here and there, in no instance was any act of vio- 
lence committed ! 

A few words on the general character of the Negroes of 
this island, may not be out of place here. 

In attempting to delineate the character of the Negroes of 
Jamaica, it might be well to illustrate it from that of the 
Negroes of Guinea. As is well known, there is no land under 



125 

the sun where human life is so little valued, where blood 
flows so freely as there. It is very different here. From my 
long acquaintance with the Negroes of this island, I have every 
reason to believe that they are neither cruel nor vindictive. 
They have always 'appeared to me remarkably good natured, 
peaceable, and of a docile disposition. A striking feature in 
their character, is their patience in suffering ; and their quiet 
submission in adversity of whatever kind. "What would 
throw others into the deepest grief, they can bear with perfect 
equanimity, as a thing ^' that cannot be helped." ^o word 
of complaint, no murmuring, will escape them, even when 
laid, month after month, on a sick bed ; or when they have 
lost their all ; though agitated for a moment, they will in a 
short time become calm and fully resigned. This is equally 
the case whether the affliction comes from the hand of God or 
man. Their patience can only be surpassed by their good 
nature and willingness to forgive and forget. Xo one appears 
to meditate anything like revenge for past wrongs ; nor do 
they hastily take fire at new insults and injuries. I have 
known many examples of this description, which have asto- 
nished me. I was once particularly struck with an illus- 
tration of this trait in the character of the Negroes, while 
preaching at one of our stations. A gentleman, who had 
never visited the house of God before, made his appearance : 
one of our members, a helper in the congregation, paid him 
the greatest attention, and did many little offices for him, his 
eyes beaming with joy and gladness. Why, I enquired, why 
do you do all this ? what makes you so happy in your atten- 
tion to this gentleman r ^^Have I not been the slave of this 
man ?" he answered; ^^ has he not punished me many times 
for going to church ? and now to see him come himself, and 
sit down with me under the same roof I" In this way, all 
feelings of dislike or hatred — if he ever harboured any, which 



126 

I do not believe he did — were swallowed up in a joy resem- 
bling that of the angels of heaven over converted sinners. 

However, good-natured and forgiving as the Xegroes un- 
doubtedly are, still they are deficient in those qualities which 
make a people strong and prosperous. There is a want of 
energy, of perseverance, of aspiration, which amounts justly 
to the charge of levity. Satisfied with their present acquisi- 
tions and condition, they prefer ease to toil, — a sufficiency of 
daily bread to hard-earned riches, — contentment of mind 
to any effort for distinction, — and even ignorance to any 
labour for mental attainments. This disposition, unless 
counteracted by necessity, or continually opposed by those in 
authority, if allowed to work out its legitimate consequence, 
tends to lower and degrade a people. To ease, selfishness soon 
joins itself, and selfishness is most destructive to society. I 
have known more than one instance of men refusing to plant 
fruit-trees, because they themselves were not likely to reap 
the fruit. And my endeavours to persuade the inhabitants 
of a village to undertake conjointly the performance of some 
work for the common good, very often proved partially or 
entirely a failure. On one occasion, I urged upon the people 
the necessity of making a road through the village, as the 
path was a complete bog ; they were all to turn out on cer- 
tain days, to do it. Some did so, but as others did not, they 
returned home again ; and after several failures, it was found 
impossible to get the work done in this way. The next plan 
I proposed was, that every one, as far as his own land lay 
along the road, should put it in order. ^^ Suppose," said one, 
'^ I should make a good road along my fence, would not other 
peo])le icalk uijon it F" This argument of unblushing selfishness 
surpassed all my previous conceptions, and I gave up my endea- 
vours to obtain a better road in despair. I often represented 
to the people the advantage they would find in joining to- 



127 

gether to build a large cistern for general use ; but though 
they acknowledged the truth of my remarks, they would 
never unite to do it. It is only when the minister himself 
undertakes and superintends a work of this nature, that it is 
likely to meet with success. 

As to the mental qualities of the jS'egroes, they are not so 
dull and unthinking as some would suppose them to be. 
There is a shrewdness and sagacity about them, which is un- 
perceived by a visitor or superficial observer, on account of 
the deference and respect which they pay to the white man. 
But they are not slow in forming a pretty correct estimate of 
the man they have to deal with, and shaping their course ac- 
cordingly. "We must take into account, that, though there 
are in men of every nation, fundamental features of charac- 
ter, it is by circumstances the character is formed, and the 
original disposition may be overlaid and perverted so as to be 
scarcely recognizable, To this I would call especial atten- 
tion, for I believe this is the case with the present generation 
of West India Xegroes. Just those qualities in man which 
ennoble him, slavery opposed and uprooted. The slave 
hates toil and exertion, because he is not to reap the fruit of 
his labours. TThat can he care for distinction or know- 
ledge, which would only cause him to be more hated, 
suspected, and persecuted ? Even riches lose their attraction, 
for the slave is not allowed to display them. Slavery takes 
away every incentive to all higher pursuits ; and what won- 
der, if, at last, a care-for-nothing levity overshadows and 
degrades the whole man. On the other hand, this demoralizing 
system, by uprooting and destroying what is good, or may be 
employed for good, fosters all that is evil. Intellect and 
sagacity, of which the IS'egro has a good share, are employed 
for the lowest puqDOses, until aU that is naturally good in 
the man degenerates into low cunning, prevarication, dupli- 



128 

city, hj^pocrisy, deceit and concealment. To deceive the 
overseer was his daily study. Even his religious exercises had 
to be covered with deceit : in poor clothes, with hoe and bill in 
hand, the Negro would take the road to his garden in the sight 
of the overseer, to make him believe that he was going to 
work; and when once in the bush, he would change his 
clothes, and be off to church. ^' Yes, Massa," was the slave's 
answer to every question and command ; and almost inva- 
riably, he obliged you to repeat what you had said, that 
he might have time to frame his answer, if a longer one was 
required. I remember having once clearly convicted an old 
!N^egro of denying the truth and telling a lie ; but when I 
asked him how he dared do so ? his answer was, '* Massa can- 
not expect that I should put the rope about my own neck." 

Hany sad and vexatious experiences of Xegro deceit and 
lying are made by the missionaries, which have often been laid 
to the charge of his real character ; but I cannot believe that 
this is the fact. I take these deviations from his natural cha- 
racter, to be the effect of slave education. It is not at all 
uncommon to hear a man solemnly affirm that he has not a 
penny, while he has a check in his pocket for twenty pounds ; 
and in most cases, it would be a vain endeavour to convince 
him that he had told a falsehood ; because he had satisfied 
his conscience with the fact that he really had no penny. 

Though there is still the old slave population, it must be 
evident to all who have laboured long among them, that there 
is a decided improvement. And why may we not hope, yea 
confidently predict, that the farther they are removed from 
slavery, (when this and the coming generation will have 
passed away,) that these consequences will disappear also. 
And as inducements are now held out by honest industry to 
acquire temporal, mental, and spiritual treasures, there is 
good reason to believe that the Negro will gradually rise in 



129 

the scale of society. He has'a good-natured disposition and 
an affectionate attachment to those by whom he is surrounded, 
which will make him amiable ; along with these he has talent 
which requires only to be cultivated and rightly directed to 
cause him to be respected. Though not inventive, he is very 
imitative, and capable of acquiring skiU in trade ; though not 
enterprising, he is well able to endure the ills of life ; and 
though the general disposition and talents of the race are not 
calculated, as far as we can see, to give them great pre-emi- 
nence, they may, and will, no doubt, become a very different 
and superior people, in comparison of the poor, despised, and 
degraded slaves they once were. As it is, they still bear, and 
wiU bear for another generation, the marks and scars which 
that system inflicted upon them. 

At the time when liberty was proclaimed, the character 
which slavery had impressed upon the people was in its full 
strength, and they were judged by many accordingly. '^ They 
are naturally," so said the planters, ^' the most indolent peo- 
ple ; all day long they will bask in the sun in listless idle- 
ness." And some, in the prospect of emancipation, judging 
very Kkely from their own feelings, were afraid to rely on 
the good nature and forgiving disposition of the people. The 
!N"egroes on the other hand, were overjoyed ; and though they 
had reason to look with distrust and suspicion upon their 
former masters, it would have been well for the planters 
if they had not raised obstacles to prevent them from remain- 
ing as tenants on their plantations. But in general, this was 
not permitted. In most cases, the people were charged such 
exorbitant rents for their houses and gardens, that they took 
the.first opportunity to purchase land for themselves, and leave 
the estate : so that within a few years after emancipation, 
whole villages had entirely disappeared, and new ones sprung 
up in other places, where dense woods had before covered the 



130 

ground. The planters complained bitterly of the loss of their 
labourers ; but in too many instances, they had only them- 
selves to blame. 

Hitherto the slave had no occasion to exercise forethought ; 
he had no need to provide for his daily wants ; his house, his 
raiment, part of his food, and medical attendance, all had been 
provided for him. Now suddenly he had to care for himself. 
Ey emancipation, he was introduced into a situation alto- 
gether new, and often very perplexing to his narrow mind. 
These circumstances tended to become thorns and briars to 
choke the good seed of the word — to make him forget God, 
and become worldly-minded ; on the other hand, the position 
in which he was now placed, attached him more closely to the 
church and to the missionary. To him he turned therefore, 
with all his trouble, and by him was willingly assisted. Fre- 
quently and earnestly was he warned not to allow temporal 
concerns to encroach upon his religious duties, but rather 
to let them be an incitement to more earnest prayer and 
faith in the Lord. 

Our Brethren frequently consulted on the expediency of 
establishing Moravian settlements, or place congregations, as 
in Europe, and at the Cape of Good Hope, and some attempts 
were made to accomplish this. An estate — a coffee planta- 
tion, called Maidstone, close to Is'azareth — was purchased ; 
where a school-house, that served likewise as a chapel, had 
been built ; but the ground beicg rocky and uneven, did not 
allow the formation of a settlement in regular streets and 
squares, but the land was parcelled out and sold to the ]^e- 
groes, who soon built a large, but irregular village. In 1848 
the school-house at Nazareth was removed to Maidstone, and 
transformed into a regular chapel, though still used as a 
school-room. At Eeaufort, likewise, the Brethren purchased 
some hundred acres of land, which were sold again in small 



131 

lots to the people. These attempts have not been successful, 
and the Brethren have often regretted that they ever entered 
upon such a plan. Many unprincipled persons got possession 
of the ground, and proved troublesome neighbours ; and even 
when, in the^first instance, pious persons settled upon the land, 
it frequently passed into bad hands after their departure, so 
that these villages are now inhabited by various characters, 
some good, others very indifferent. It is a strange fact, one 
which has not been observed here only, that those who live 
nearest to the house of God, are frequently the most lukewarm, 
the most careless, and slothful in every good work, and gener- 
ally the last in their attendance on the means of grace. 
"While the candle lights up the room, it is dark round the can- 
dlestick. It was so of old, they who had the manna from hea- 
ven most abundantly, were those who murmured against God, 
and exclaimed, ^' our soul loatheth this light bread." 

Since the Brethren came to Fairfield in 1823, they had 
preached the gospel at Isle, a coffee plantation, ten miles dis- 
tant in the Carpenter mountains. A large congregation had 
been gathered there, and they were urgent in their requests 
to have a chapel built. It has always been the plan of the 
Moravian missionaries, to preach the gospel to those who are 
most neglected, and a principle with them never to encroach 
upon the labours of others. When this place, (afterwards 
called Bethabara,) was built, this principle appeared to 
forbid the establishment of a mission station. Within 
three miles on each side a government church had been 
erected, and there appeared no decided necessity for another 
chapel to be erected by the Brethren. They were not for- 
getful of their principles, and the question whether they 
should give a favourable answer to the application of the 
people was well considered ; the plea they urged was, that 
the Brethren had preached the gospel to them long before 



132 

those churches were built ; — that they had been established 
as a Moravian congregation for many years past ; and that 
to forsake them, and force them to join themselves to a 
church to which they had several not unfounded objections, 
was cruel and unfeeling. Under these circumstances, the 
Brethren came to the conclusion, that the building of a 
mission station at this place did not involve a breach of 
their principles; and consequently, on the 16th of Janu- 
ary, 1840, the foundation stone of a new church was laid, 
which was finished and solemnly opened on the 28th of 
July, 1841. 

By the large expenses attending the building of several 
stations, during the last few years, a debt of seven thousand 
pounds had been contracted. Though repeated applications 
for new stations were made at this time, and openings for the 
spread of the gospel presented themselves, the Brethren felt 
it their duty to refrain from any undertaking that would oc- 
casion an increase of the debt resting on the Mission Diacony. 
A strong effort was made to liquidate this debt, in which the 
missionaries and their congregations joined most heartily. 
Of their poverty they (the missionaries,) contributed fifty 
pounds ; and the extra collections in the difi'erent congrega- 
tions of Jamaica amounted to £450. The collections in 
England and on the continent were equally liberal, and 
before long the Brethren had the satisfaction to see this debt 
discharged, 

j^ext to the preaching of the gospel, the education of the 
rising generation is of the greatest importance. As has already 
been stated, in 1826, the Brethren began to establish schools 
for the children of free people ; from that time, the number 
of schools continued to increase, and from 1836 to 1843, 
no fewer than thirteen school-houses were built, and attend- 
ed by crowds of children. The chief difficulty was, how 




THE MOEAYIAN TEAINING SCHOOL 

AT FAIEFIELD, IN THE PAJRISH OE MANCHESTEK, JAMAICA. 

The School- House was erected in course of the year 1852. It con- 
tains two School-Rooms, each 22 feet by 16,twoDressing-Rooms, two 
Teachers' Eooms^ a Dining-Hall, and a Dormitory. Large windows 
with galleries, afford abundance of light and air. The whole building 
is 68 feet by 32. 

The above Sketch affords a pretty correct idea of the situation of the 
School. The building forms a part of the Mission premises at Fair- 
field, and occupies an elevated position near the crest of the May-Day 
Mountains, whose height is estimated at 3000 feet. The ground is 
very uneven, masses of limestone protruding at intervals, and inter- 
spersed with trees and bushes of various kinds. The centre of the 
building contains the Dining-Hall with the Teachers' and Under- 
Teachers' Apartments. To the right, is the School and Dwelling- 
Eoom of the Elder Class of Pupils; to the left, that of the Younger 
Class. In the roof, are the Dormitories. In the plot of ground ad- 
joining the School-House, within the fence, are interred the remains 
of several Missionaries who departed at Fairfield. The building on 
the left, is the house formerly occupied by the Training School. 



133 

to supply these schools with properly-qualified teachers. 
Three of the principal schools were kept by young Brethren 
from England, and others by young women educated in the 
Female Eefuge School, but the greater number by teachers 
who, though of good character, and able to read and write, 
were otherwise very deficient in knowledge. The necessity 
of a higher school for the education of teachers became more 
and more apparent. The first attempt towards the attain- 
ment of this object was made by Er. Zorn in 1839. He took 
three young men into his service, who studied under him for 
three hours every day, and employed the remainder of their 
time in earning their bread by the labour of their hands. 
These scholars were afterwards sent to the Hico Institution, 
in Kingston, to complete their studies, and have, since that 
time, faithfully and efficiently served as teachers in several 
schools. 

In 1840, it was resolved to establish a K'ormal School 
at Fairfield ; and Br. Holland, from America, arrived to 
take charge of it. Ten young lads, from thirteen to four- 
teen years of age were selected and placed under his instruc- 
tion ; and in 1 844 a house was built for their accommodation, 
and their number increased to twelve. In this Institution, 
the scholars remained from four to six years. The edu- 
cation they received was solid but plain, confined to the 
common branches, as arithmetic, grammar, geography, and 
composition ; languages and mathematics were not taught ; 
Bible studies were diligently attended to ; and at the present 
time, fifteen young men, educated in this Institution, are 
employed as teachers in our schools. 

The importance of such an Institution in a mission of long 
standing is obvious. A mission must in time lose that 
character. When, by the preaching of the gospel, churches 
have been established, they should, as soon as possible, be pre- 



134 

•sided over bj^ men of their own nation and colour ; and for this 
purpose, higher schools and theological institutions are abso- 
lutely necessary. The establishment of the !N'ormal School at 
Fairfield was a principal step towards this object, but only a 
step; and it soon became apparent that this Institution required 
a further developement. The scholars entering at the age of 
thirteen or fourteen years, had barely learned to read, and 
much time was lost in giving instructions in mere elementary 
knowledge. Low habits and manners had become so con- 
firmed in these young persons, before they entered the 
school, that it was resolved to receive them into the Insti- 
tution at an earlier age : and twelve scholars being found 
insufficient to supply the vacancies in our elementary schools, 
it was thought desii^able to increase the number to twenty- 
four ; and as they advanced, to extend the course of in- 
struction, and train them in some of the higher branches of 
knowledge. 

In 1852, the Brethren received unexpectedly an offer from 
the Trustees of Taylor's Charity, to assist them to increase 
the usefulness of the Training School. This charity was the 
legacy of a gentleman who died about twenty years ago, and 
left a capital, the interest of which was to be devoted to edu- 
tional purposes in Jamaica. The trustees offered £300 for the 
building of a new school-house, and a grant of £200 annually, 
for several years, upon condition that the number of scholars 
should be increased to twenty-four. This grant, therefore, 
does not lessen the expenses of the school, which are about 
£200 a year, independent of Taylor's Charity. The Brethren 
gladly accepted the offer, and regarded it as an answer to 
their prayers, and a token of the Lord's favour. In the same 
year, 1852, a new jN'ormalor Training School house was built 
the dimensions of which were sixty- eight by thirty- two feet, 
comprising two large airy school-rooms, a dining-hall, a dor- 



135 

mitory, and two teachers' rooms. The house is surrounded 
by a flo^ver and vegetable garden, cultivated by the scholars, 
who are employed an hour every morning and evening in 
manual labour. In March 1853, this school was solemnly 
opened with twenty-four scholars. Two European brethren 
are engaged in it as teachers, assisted by two coloured teachers, 
who attend to a day-school of one hundred children at the 
same place, and superintend the scholars of the K'ormal school 
during free hours and preparation time. The branches taught 
at present are : Christian doctrine, sacred and profane his- 
tory, aiithmetic, grammar, geography, composition, music, 
singing and playing the piano and organ. As the scho- 
lars advance, other studies may be added. This school has 
hitherto proceeded satisfactorily; the scholars have made 
good progress, and a number of them hold out very encou - 
raging prospects of future usefulness. It will, however, be 
five or six years before we shall reap the fruit of our labours 
in this department, as the scholars who entered only last year 
will remain for six or eight years under our care. The 
avowed object of this Institution is, to train teachers for our 
numerous schools ; we hope, however, that among these some 
may be found in the course of time, whose acquirements and 
personal character shall qualify them, through the grace of 
God, for the higher office of preaching the gospel. 

Our experience during a long course of years enables us to 
form an opinion as to the mental capabilities of the Xegro race. 
It has been affirmed that they are every way inferior to the 
white people ; that their intellect is capable of cultivation only 
to a certain extent, and that then it becomes stationary. 
We cannot altogether agree to this. There is among them as 
great a diversity of talent and intellect as is to be met with 
elsewhere, and certainly not a few might be found who would 
fully confirm this opinion ; but still, as a whole, while we do 



136 

not believe that they are as yet capable of the highest degree 
of cultivation, there can be no doubt that, in powers of me- 
mory, the black children surpass those of the white people. 
It astonishes our teachers, who have been for years engaged in 
schools at home, to see with what facility they commit 
to memory page after page, and how they excel in those 
studies in which the memory chiefly is exercised. Sut as to 
intellect, they certainly do not appear equal to the children 
of the whites. In all those cases that call for the exercise of 
thought and invention, there is a marked deficiency. It 
may still be a question whether this dulness is peculiar to 
the ]S"egro race, or whether it is to be attributed to the 
sleepy manner in which the children are brought up by their 
parents. That the black man is capable of a high degree 
of culture has often been proved, and there are in our days, 
some striking instances of this. Whether fi:om this training- 
school, which appears already to encourage our hopes, some 
shall go forth into the vineyard of the Lord, remains yet to 
be seen. Seminaries like these are certainly the hope of 
the West Indies. If ever the black man shall rise, there 
must be men of his own colour to take the lead : and it 
is from such institutions they must come forth. If in these 
establishments, the aim be not only to impart knowledge, but 
also to promote godliness ; to guide the students to the know- 
ledge of themselves and the knowledge of Christ, and they 
come forth having experienced the grace of God in their own 
hearts, being born again, we may confidently predict great 
and lasting benefits to arise as the result. Those now under 
training may, in the course of time, not only take the place 
of the European teacher and missionary in the West Indies, 
but they may also go forth as missionaries to preach the 
gospel to their countrymen in Africa. 
The plan of sending missionaries from the West Indies to 



137 

Africa, was much spoken of at the time the English Govern- 
ment sent out the Mger expedition in 1840. An attempt 
was made to carry it out in 1841, when Messrs. Eeiss 
and Wiedeman, two missionaries of the Mission Society at 
Basle, arrived in Jamaica and proposed to take a number of 
converted JS'egroes, as emigrants and assistants to the mission- 
aries at Akrapong, near Coast Castle, Guinea, where the 
former had already laboured eight years. Eecommended by 
the Elders of our Church, they met both with support and 
encouragement from the Brethren here ; who, in all their 
congregations, called upon those who were willing and were 
approved of by the church, to come forward and offer their ser- 
vices. Prom among those who volunteered to set out upon this 
novel and exciting enterprise, six married couples, and some 
single persons, were chosen ; who, soon after, left the shores 
of Jamaica and arrived safely at the place of their destination. 
They were promised a free passage back to Jamaica after Rve 
years residence in Africa, should they prefer to return ; but of 
all that left only one couple returned in 1849 ; the rest chose 
to remain. This was certainly an experiment of no common 
interest to all the friends of missions. The expediency of 
the undertaking was doubted by many : '^ Could the emi- 
grants," it was asked, ^^ withstand the evil influences with 
which they would be surrounded in the midst of a heathen 
population ? "Were they sufficiently established in the faith 
to be proof against African superstition, which they had 
themselves believed in before their conversion ? And would 
they whose characters had been moulded in slavery be able to 
exercise any influence upon a free independent people ?" In 
answer to these questions, it may be said, the hopes of the 
Basle Society were partly realized ; the mission in Akrapong 
was in some degree benefited by these endeavours to convince 
the natives of the folly of their heathenish customs, and to lead 



138 

them in some measure to forsake them ; still the good that 
was expected to result from their labours was not fully at- 
tained. Two or three of these emigrants did not continue in 
the grace of Grod, and proved unworthy of the confidence 
which had been placed in them. 

In the year 1842, African superstition and fanaticism made 
a strong effort to gain once more the ascendancy over the 
minds of many; especially in the northern parts of the island. 
Around our congregations at Irwin-Hill, where I was sta- 
tioned at the time, the infatuation was so great, and the 
temptation so strong, that a satanic agency, an effort of the 
prince of darkness to keep the captives in his chains, could 
not be mistaken. The common superstition of the N"egro, is 
the belief in Obeah or sorcery ; some persons, mostly old Afri- 
cans, were always found, who pretended to be adepts in these 
mysteries, and who were largely paid for practising Obeah. 
Their manner was, to bury, at the gate or in the residence 
of the person who was to be dealt with, a box or cloth, con- 
taining earth from a grave, feathers of a fowl, and other 
articles, which in their belief would produce sickness and 
death, or an entire change of mind. The object was fre- 
quently obtained with the credulous and superstitious. An 
indescribable fear came over them when they believed them- 
selves under the influence of supernatural powers. I have 
myself known persons who, under this fear, sickened and died, 
and some who even committed suicide. The law of the 
land inflicted upon the Obeah men, the heaviest penalty, in 
former days even death and banishment. Though the prac- 
tisers of Obeahism were greatly feared by the superstitious, 
they were always looked upon as very wicked people. Ano- 
ther class of sorcerers were the My almen. These pretended 
to have stiU greater powers, and were accounted good and holy. 
They pretended to be able to make Obeahism of no effect ; 



139 

that they could discoYer and destroy it ; and maintained that 
they were sent by God to purge the world from all wicked- 
ness ; and that they had received power to procure rest for 
the wandering spirits, or shadows as they were called. 
These laid claim to an immediate intercourse with God, and 
divine revelations. 

In 1842, several Xegroes on an estate near ^lontego Pay 
gave themselves out to be such ^lyalmen, and began to prac- 
tice their heathenish rites openly and boldly. In an in- 
credibly short time, this superstition spread " through the 
whole parish of St. James, and the neighbouring parishes of 
Westmoreland and Trelawny ; hundreds and thousands laid 
claim to the same distinction, or became the followers of 
these men. As soon as the darkness of evening set in, they 
assembled in crowds in open pastures, most frequently under 
large cotton trees, which they worshipped, and counted holy ; 
after sacrificing some fowls, the leader began an extempore 
song, in a wild strain, which was answered in chorus ; the 
dance followed, grew wilder and wilder, until they were in a 
state of excitement bordering on madness. 

Some would perform incredible evolutions while in this 
state, until, utterly exhausted, they fell senseless to the 
ground, when every word they uttered was received as a 
divine revelation. At other times, Obeab. was to be disco- 
vered, or a '^ shadow" was to be caught ; a little coffin being 
prepared, in which it was to be inclosed and buried. The 
influence these heathenish practices had upon their votaries 
was truly deplorable ; it was questionable, whether they had 
not really lost their senses altogether ; their very features 
changed, so that it was difficult to recognize them again ; 
they became haggard and distorted, and their eyes wild and 
glaring. A handkerchief tied in a fantastical manner round 
the head, and another as tightly as possible round the waist, 



140 

distinguished them. K'ot only at night, but even during the 
day, I have seen them sitting in hollow trees, singing their 
songs, or running along the road vrith outstretched arms as 
fast as their feet could carry them, which they called flying. 
On one occasion, they entered a chapel in a body, interrupting 
divine worship ; and on another, a number of them came one 
Sunday to Irwin-hill while I was preaching, and were only 
intimidated by the presence of six policemen, who regularly 
attended, and took their station at the doors. The autho- 
rities found it necessary to take steps to preserve peace 
and public tranquillity; several hundred special constables 
were sworn in, and numbers of these people, who by their 
bowlings and noises disturbed the peaceable inhabitants, were 
confined in jail for several weeks, as many as a hundred 
at once. 

The revival of heathenism proved a trial and temptation to 
our converts. Once they had been firm believers in these 
superstitions and blasphemies. They had denied them and 
turned to the living and true God ; now they were again 
brought before them in all their strength ; and they were in- 
vited to return as a dog to his vomit, and a sow to her wal- 
lowing in the mire. ITany were not a little startled, some 
wavered, and would not at once bear testimony against the 
lie ; but this did not last long, they soon recovered from their 
surprise, and actively opposed this wickedness. Of our con- 
gregation at Irwin-Hill consisting of several hundred mem- 
bers only three gave themselves up to this delusion. Among 
them was a young man who took the lead in all wickedness, 
and whose mind became quite disordered. He was confined 
in jail for three weeks, and the very day he was set at liberty, 
I saw him returning home dancing and shouting like a 
madman. He was not yet sobered. On one occasion, hear- 
ing that I had warned others not to keep company with him, 



141 

he came to justify himself; while speaking to him I saw that 
every muscle in his body was affected, and that he laboured 
under a fearful excitement. ^^ Let me go/' he called out, ^^the 
spirit comes upon me, and I don't know what I may do I" 

This excitement could not last long ; though it continued 
for more than six months, it gradually subsided ; and a year 
after scarcely anything was heard of it. Two of our mem- 
bers' who had joined these Myal dancers returned, asked 
pardon, and wished to be readmitted; which they were 
allowed to hope for, upon condition that they would make full 
and open confession. Their version of the matter was, that 
having gone one evening to witness the dance they were 
offered rum to drink, in which it was affirmed a strong narco- 
tic root had been steeped, that refusing to take it, it had been 
poured upon their head and face, and they soon became excit- 
ed; and as they said could not help themselves. It was only 
after a long time of probation and repeated application, that we 
could consent to readmit them as members of the church. 

The practices of Obeah and Myalism, formerly so common, 
become less and less frequent, though to this day they are 
still followed, and have not lost their power and influence 
over the minds of those who take part in them. Again and 
again we have to use all oui^ authority and influence against 
these devices of the wicked one. Xothing so entirely per- 
verts the mind of man ; they uproot christian faith, destroy 
every sound principle, and being foolish and absurd in the 
extreme, they ruin at once both soul and body. There is 
no sin against which a missionary, who knows the conse- 
quences, should be more watchful to guard his people. It 
might prove the ruin of a congregation if not exposed and 
offenders brought under the strictest exercise of chiuxh discip- 
line, as soon as anything tending towards such wickedness 
makes its appearance. The same fanaticism has sho^ii itself 



142 

also in onr congregations at j^azaretli and Bethany as late as 
1849 and 1852, though in a somewhat different form. In- 
flated with pride, some gave themselves out to be prophets, 
inspired by the Spirit of God, and began to preach ; but there 
were the same immoral practices, the same dances, always 
connected with it, which stamped it as the same heathenish 
superstition, decorated with some christian doctrines applied 
to blasphemous purposes. Offenders of this kind, after hav- 
ing been spoken with and entreated not to grieve the Spirit of 
God, are, if they persist in their infatuation, publicly excluded 
from all church privileges, and not re- admitted, until humbly, 
before the whole congregation, they confess their sin and 
error, and beg to be pardoned ; and then they are again ad- 
mitted, only upon trial. ^'From the murdering spirit and 
devices of Satan ; — Preserve us, gracious Lord and God^ 

The year 1843 was a time of severe trial for the mission in 
Jamaica. Not less than four missionaries, the brethren Gates, 
Zorn, Davies, and Blandford, departed this life in the course 
of the year; all devoted and earnest men, who, humanly 
speaking, could ill be spared at a time when new congrega- 
tions were forming, and the calls for instruction and help were 
so urgent. The loss of Br. Jacob Zorn, who for nine years 
had held the office of superintendent of the mission, was par- 
ticularly felt. He was a man eminently fitted for his station 
and office. Humble and unpretending, he was endowed with 
uncommon talents ; his sound judgment always directing 
him in the right course, and his love and affection gaining for 
him the confidence and esteem of all his brethren. He de- 
parted this life at Bethlehem, but his body was removed to 
Pairfield, where he had requested to be interred in the midst 
of his fornier congregation. By the loss of so many mis- 
sionaries, the brethren found themselves hindered on every 
hand ; they saw ^ ^ the fields ripe for harvest, but the 



143 

labourers were few.'' Those that remained however exerted 
themselves to the utmost, and had the pleasure of seeing 
several brethren arrive at the close of the year to fill up their 
thinned ranks. 

In 1847, Brother Herman, member of the Directing Board of 
the mission, and Brother William Mallalieu, treasurer of the 
Mission, arrived in Jamaica as a deputation from the Unity's 
Elders' Conference, being commissioned by them to hold a 
visitation of our churches in this island. After a preparatory 
conference with all the missionary brethren at Eairfield^ they 
visited the different stations, and examined minutely into the 
state of our churches and schools, much to the encouragement 
of the Brethren and the edification of the congregations. On 
their return, they were again met by all the missionaries at 
a general conference in Pairfield, which lasted three days ; 
and after a sojourn of three months, they proceeded on their 
way. This visit led to the establishment of Springfield, 
as a separate station, which had been for several years an 
out station, attended to by the minister at Eulnec. The same 
year, 1847, a brother removed to this locality ; and the church 
which had been for some time in the course of erection was 
soon finished, and solemnly opened for the service of God. 
This is the last congregation of the Brethren that has been 
established in Jamaica. 

A change in the management of the mission took place at 
the same time. Hitherto the missionaries had met every 
eight weeks, at one of the central stations, when all changes, 
every new proposal, and all the concerns of the mission, were 
deliberated upon a-nd decided by them, every brother having 
an equal voice and vote. According to a decision of the 
Unity's Elders' Conference, the deputies nominated four 
brethren besides the superintendent, and to these the princi- 
pal care of the mission was entrusted, and with them the ap- 



144 

pointment of the missionaries to the different stations was 
to rest in future. This board, called the Helpers' Conference, 
meets every eight weeks, and the General Conference, at 
which all the brethren of the mission meet, and before whom 
all the concerns of the mission in general are laid, assembles 
every four weeks. The merits and demerits of this regulation 
have been frequently discussed, and an appeal made to our 
Elders to annul it, but as this is the mode of proceeding esta- 
blished throughout our church, and in all the more extended 
missions they did not feel themselves at liberty to accede to 
the request. 

The same year, 1847, two brethren, H. G. Pfeiffer and A. 
Eeinke, went from Jamaica to Bluefields, in llusquitia, Central 
America, to enquire into the practicability of establishing a 
mission among the Indians. This deputation left in May, 
and returned at the close of the year. In 1849, Brother 
Pfeiffer , accompanied by two single brethren, proceeded to 
that country to open a new mission. 

In 1850 and 1851, Jamaica was visited by a fearful ca- 
lamity. The cholera spread through the land, and above 
twenty thousand people were, within a few months, brought 
to the grave by this disease ! The parish of Manchester, in 
which four of our largest congregations are situated, was the 
only part of the island that escaped this awful visitation. In 
"Westmoreland and St. Elizabeth parishes, our congregations 
suffered but little in comparison, not more than about sixty 
having died of this disease. But at Irwin-Hill the pestilence 
raged with fearful violence. Of our members alone, one 
hundred and forty were cut off. The distress occasioned by 
this visitation was heart-rending. The scenes of suffering, 
destitution, and misery that presented themselves on every 
hand were appalling. Br. Lichtenthaler, who was stationed 
at Irwin-Hill, fearlessly exposed himself to the infection, and 



145 

visited the sick, administered to their wants, and directed 
them to the Saviour of sinners. ^Tiile some, who had neg- 
lected to seek their soul's salvation, died without peace or 
comfort, our brother had the pleasure to witness, in many of 
the converts, evidences of a living faith ; some, having hope, 
trusted in the merits and death of Jesus for the remission of 
their sins ; and others, triumphing in the full assurance of ever- 
lasting life, departed praising and blessing God for all his mer- 
cies. In all our congregations, the conduct of the members, 
towards those who were attacked by the disease, deserves the 
highest praise. !N"ot one sick or dying person was forsaken, 
all were cared for, without regard to the infection and dan- 
ger. At Isew- Hope, where thirty persons died, one young 
man, (others being afraid to assist in burying the dead,) digged 
all the graves, and carried the bodies to their resting place, 
and yet escaped the disease. "Whatever has been said, or may 
be said, of the cowardice and want of feeling shown in some 
parts of the country, our congregations distinguished them- 
selves by the care which they took of the sufferers, following 
the dictates of christian charity, and forgetting self in their 
labour of love. 

The danger in which our people were placed at that time, 
induced them and others who had hitherto been careless, to 
seek the Lord more earnestly for the salvation of their souls. 
Throughout this season, the churches could not contain 
the crowds which assembled to humble themselves before the 
Lord, and to sue for mercy. The dissolute and careless were 
arrested for a time, the rum- shops were unvisited, and the 
fiddle and the drum were not heard. However, as in all such 
cases, when the danger was past, forgetfulness and carelessness 
took the place of what had been but a partial reform ; though 
individual cases were not wanting to prove that the time had 
been well employed to produce the fruits of genuine repentance ; 



146 

instances might also be given of utter recklessness and hard 
ness of heart. On one estate, when the cholera was almost 
in eyery house, a man called the people to a dance ; while 
beating the drum he was taken ill, and the next morning 
he and his drum were buried together. 

The social condition of the people has greatly changed since 
1838. Before that time, they had lived together on the plan- 
tations, generally in poor wretched huts, which they were too 
careless to keep in repair, as they were not their ovvn property ; 
but now, with few exceptions, every one lives in his own house, 
and on his own acre of ground. The land round the churches 
has been eagerly purchased and largely paid for, and villages 
have sprung up here and there. The houses which they have 
erected are at least equal to those which they inhabited be- 
fore emancipation, and generally superior. An improvement 
in dress is likewise become apparent. Many had the means, 
and were able, at the time of their liberation, to purchase land 
and build houses; for they had, even as slaves, opportunities 
for saving money from the produce of their provision grounds, 
and by other means ; though they took care not to display 
their riches. These stores were, however, soon exhausted, and 
they have now to depend upon their land and the labour of their 
hands for their support. It could not be otherwise, but that 
the new condition in which they found themselves would exer- 
cise a decided influence upon their character. The minds of 
some became entirely engrossed by the things of this world ; 
covetousness and selfishness laid fast hold upon them; others 
became dissipated and vile ; but of the majority of our mem- 
bers, it might be said, that they continued steadfast in the faith 
of the gospel. Gradually the submission and servility of the 
slave began to give way to a feeling of independence. His cha- 
racter, as well as his outward circumstances, became changed. 

When the heart is given to the Lord, a feeling of personal 



147 

responsibility, independence, and self-respect, is highly fa- 
vourable to the cause of Christ ; being redeemed from all 
iniquity, these feelings, combined with love to the Saviour, 
will make his people zealous of good works ; but where they 
are not hallowed by faith, independence leads men into pride 
and evil lusts, which soon become apparent. "While the faith - 
ful members of the church became more decided and active, 
the worldly-minded did not suffer themselves to be restrained 
any longer. For some considerable time before the year 1838, 
and for some time after, the influence and authority of the 
missionaries were so paramount, that worldly amusements were 
almost entirely suppressed; there was no dancing, no revellings 
and the like, as formerly ; but now the influence of the mis- 
sionaries over those who were not members of the church was 
insufficient to suppress these evils : they increased more and 
more. As the shops for the sale of spirituous liquors multiplied, 
the missionaries were led to complain bitterly of the increase 
ungodliness and sinful pursuits. Some of their members were 
entangled in the snares of the wicked one. The young people 
were restrained with difficulty, when temptations to merriment 
were set before them; and those who were not under any control 
of church rule, became more bold and hardened in iniquity. 
Fnder these circumstances, it could scarcely be otherwise, but 
that a falling away of many would take place. Those who 
had joined the church from worldly considerations, and a de- 
sire to be thought respectable, as the times changed, would of 
course change likewise. Such temptations must come, they 
are necessary to make apparent who are sincere and who 
are not ; they serve to separate the chaff from the wheat. 
Under these circumstances, therefore, it need be no cause of 
surprise if the church members, who had been most numer- 
ous in 1845, have decreased some hundreds, and may still, 
for some time, continue to decrease.^' 

* See the Note, page 152. 



148 

The mission of the United Brethren in J amaica numbers 
more stations, and more members, than any other of the three 
missions ; but it is likewise the most expensive. Including 
building and school accounts, the cost is about £4000 a year. 
But if it be taken into consideration that the outlay, for school 
purposes alone, is about £1400 ; that several hundred pounds 
are spent every year in repairs and the erection of buildings ; 
and that there are sixteen married missionaries in the island ; 
the expenses will be found very moderate indeed. 

Since 1839, the contributions of our congregations here have 
amounted to about £1200 per annum ; the deficiency has hi- 
therto been defrayed by collections, in aid of our missions, in 
the British Isles and on the Continent of Europe. In 1848, 
when political commotion in Europe made it very doubtful 
whether the interest in missionary work would be equally 
lively as heretofore, and whether the amount necessary to sup- 
port the mission upon its present footing could be raised ; and 
when, at the same time, the prostration of trade and agriculture, 
and consequent poverty in the island, threatened considera- 
bly to reduce our receipts from the congregations here ; it be- 
came a question whether the number of missionaries should be 
decreased, stations given up, and schools closed, to lessen the 
expenses ; or whether the brethren should endeavour to devise 
some other means for the support of the gospel in this island. 

It has been the endeavour of the IToravian missionaries^ 
from the beginning, to support themselves as much as possible 
by the labour of their hands ; and it is generally believed that 
by doing so they confer a benefit on the people, as they profit 
by the example, as well as by the trades and manufactures 
which are thus established among them. To this day the 
Esquimaux are largely benefitted by the trade which the Breth- 
ren have opened with them ; while, at the same time, the mis- 
sionaries thereby nearly support themselves. Likewise at the 



149 

Cape of Good Hope, and at Surinam, a similar plan is pursued. 
The Brethren in Jamaica therefore determined to do what 
they could rather than hinder the progress of the gospel, 
reduce the missionaries, or curtail their labours. 

In the hope of earning something towards meeting the 
expenses of the mission, the Brethren opened three stores, 
(superintended by themselyes, assisted by clerks) in differ- 
ent stations, for the sale of dry goods. Their intention was to 
request the assistance of brethren who were merchants, to come 
out here and tahe charge of them, as soon as they were suffici- 
ently established. Br. Spence, warden of the mission, actively 
and faithfully endeavoured to carry out those plans; but it 
pleased the Lord to call him home to himself in September 
1852, before he had been able to arrange everything ; and after 
his decease, other circumstances prevented the execution of his 
designs. The consequence was, that this attempt, though not 
altogether abandoned, has been so retrenched, that the assis- 
tance which the mission is Kkely to derive from it is very trifl- 
ing ; therefore the brethren feel the more thankful that their 
anticipations of a diminished income have not been realized. 

It cannot be denied, that such an undertaking as that of 
missionaries entering upon trade, is open to many objections, 
and might prove detrimental to the cause of Christ. As a rule, 
we certainly should not support it. In this instance, the mis- 
sionaries appear to have had but the choice of two evils, either 
to attempt something in this way, or to curtail their labours. 
And if it be taken into account, that no personal profit what- 
ever was connected with this undertaking ; but that, on the 
contrary, it was attended with much labour and responsibility, 
their willingness to take such a burden upon themselves 
deserves respect and commendatioi;! rather than censure. 

Though numbers of our members lived at a considerable 
distance from the church, many from five to ten miles ofi", still 



150 

tliey continued to attend the house of God regularly on the 
Sabbath-day ; but their children were sadly neglected ; they 
were at such a distance, it was impossible for them to come to 
the schools at the stations. The day-schools, and a few out sta- 
tion schools, though well attended, scarcely numbered a third 
part of the young people committed to the care of the brethren. 
It was therefore grievous to the missionaries to see the chil- 
dren of their own church members, and many others, growing 
up in ignorance, without any instruction ; such circumstances 
made the prospect for the future very discouraging. At that 
time a pious lady, llrs. S. of H., who took the liveliest 
interest in the education of the rising generation, had not only 
established several schools, under her own superintendence, 
but had also represented the neglected state of the children to 
a gentleman in London who was actively engaged in the spread 
of the gospel. This led to particular enquiries ; the reports 
of the missionaries confirmed the statements which had been 
made, and further assistance towards out- station schools, was 
readily granted by the '^ London Association in aid of the lEo- 
ravian Missions." The result was that, since 1840, thirty out- 
station schools have been established, increasing the number 
to forty -six. These schools are well attended ; and instead 
of diminishing the number of scholars in our stations, they 
contribute, by the interest which they create in the minds of 
the parents, greatly to increase it. At the present time, the 
number of children in our station schools is I060, and in 
the out-station schools 1375, in all 2940. The blessing 
of the Lord has rested upon these institutions hitherto, and 
the success that has followed the labours of the Brethren in 
this department, calls for praise and gratitude. There is a 
marked improvement perceptible in the conduct of the chil- 
dren, and the parents have likewise been benefitted. In 
several places, the people themselves have built a school- 



151 

house, or offered a house, or rented a building for the 
purpose ; and in every instance, the Brethren have suc- 
ceeded in finding a locality without any, or but a small 
outlay of money. Several of the larger schools, numbering 
from fifty to one hundred scholars, are kept by teachers edu- 
cated in our Normal school ; those numbering below forty 
children are mostly kept by young women, who possess suffi- 
cient knowledge to conduct an infant school, and whose moral, 
and religious character qualify them for the office. The 
teachers meet occasionally in conference to communicate their 
experience, receive advice, and encourage one another. Eead- 
ing, writing, arithmetic, bible-history, religious instruction, 
and in some cases grammar and geography, are taught in these 
schools. They are free to all the poor, or those who are un- 
willing to pay ; but those of good principle, who have the 
means, willingly pay for the education of their children. 
In this way we have now the satisfaction of knowing that 
provision is made for the instruction of all the children under 
our care, and the pleasure of seeing that they gladly avail 
themselves of this privilege. It has frequently been asserted 
that the jS'egroes are indifferent, and do not care to have their 
children taught • but our experience enables us to refute this 
assertion, and maintain the contrary. Wherever a teacher 
enjoys the confidence of the congregation, and the minister 
takes an interest in the school, it is well attended, and the 
school fees are in general regularly paid. Much however re 
mains yet to be done, to perfect our plans, and make these 
institutions what we wish them to be ; the poor miserable 
sheds and houses in which many of them are kept, ought to be 
superseded as soon as possible by more substantial buildings ; 
and placed under the care of well-educated and efficient 
teachers. As it is, much has been done ; this may be easily 
seen from the fact that nearly half the number of children in 



152 

attendance, viz. 1434 young persons are able to read the 
scriptures. 

These are the principal events in the history of our mission 
since the memorable ^^ First of August, 1838." IS'ow, after 
sixteen years' experience, when the excitement which at first 
attended the liberation of the slaves has long passed away, 
and the changes to which it gave birth, though still progress- 
ing, have lost much of their interest, and the preaching of the 
gospel has ceased to attract hearers on account of its novelty ; 
still it is cheering to notice that our chapels and schools are 
crowded with attentive hearers and learners, and that the 
blessing of the Lord seems to rest upon the work. Ey the 
establishment of the l^ormal, or Training School, and our 
numerous Out- station schools, the Mission has extended its 
usefulness, and has quietly advanced to a state of comparative 
prosperity. During this period, two new Mission stations, 
Eethabara and Springfield, have been established ; new cha- 
pels have been built at !N"azareth and jN'ew Eden ; the chapels 
at Bethlehem and Irwin Hill enlarged ; and in all our stations 
and congregations everything is better ordered, and more firmly 
established than ever before. Indeed sufficiently so, to cheer 
the hearts of the missionaries in their work, and to make us 
all bless the Lord, and take courage. 

Annexed is a list of our stations, and the number of our 
congregation members, according to the returns of December 
31st, 1853.'^ 



* From Eeturns pnblisliecl by the " London Association in aid of the 
Moravian Missions," and which came to hand while this Table was in 
the i)ress, it is e\ddent that Br. Buchner has not gone to the extreme 
in his enumerations. Those under pastoral care are stated thus : 
Communicants, 4249 ; Total, 13129. 
Thirteen Station Schools— Boys, 633 ; Girls, 700 ; 1G33. 
Thirty Country or Out-station Schools — Boys, 795; Girls, 580; 1375. 
Total— Boys, 1728; Girls, 1280 ; Total, 3008. —Ed, 



153 





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CHAPTEE YI. 

MISSION STATIONS — DirriCTJLTIES AND EMOLUMENTS OE THE 

MOEATIAN MISSIONARIES CONGEEGATIONS — SEEYICES ON THE 

SABBATH-DAT DUTIES OE THE MISSIONARIES — CHUECH GO- 

YEENMENT NATIYE ASSISTANTS SPIEITUAL AND MOEAL STATE 

OE THE CHUECH OPINION OE THE PLANTEES — OBSTACLES — 

CONCLUSION. 

In the preceding chapters, the principal events in the his- 
tory of the mission have been ennmerated ; in the present it is 
proposed to give a description of the mission as it is, the la- 
bours of the missionaries, and the state of our churches in 
Jamaica. 

The missionary stations of the lloravians in this island are 
pleasantly situated, and distinguished by neatness and order. 
The church, with its little belfry, and bell calling to the 
meeting, the minister's house, the schoolhouse, and several 
outhouses, built in a solid and substantial manner, of the hard 
timber of the country, or of masonry, without any attempt at 
ornament or show, form a little settlement, and may well be 
called a city on a hill, a light set on a candlestick. From thirty 
to sixty acres of land attached to each station are divided 
into allotments by dry stone walls, and converted into pastur- 
age for the horses and cattle belonging to the mission. jS'o 
public conveyances being found here, every one must provide 
for himself, and several horses are kept at every station for the 
service of the missionary. On most of these places horned 



155 

cattle and poultry are likewise kept. A missionary finds him- 
self here on a little farm ; and if he has pleasure in cultivating 
a garden, and Tvill attend in his leisure hours to the superin- 
tendence of all the labour required on a small farm, it may 
contribute towards his support ; but if not, he may reduce his 
stock ; as he will find there is much to attend to, of which a 
missionary could have no idea before he engaged in the service ; 
thus he will have ample room for the exercise of his knowledge, 
of whatever kind. All horses, stock, furniture, &c., on the 
station are the property of the mission ; and they pass from 
one missionary to another as they change places. The stations 
are, at the present time, well provided with all the necessaries 
and some of the comforts of this life ; hence it cannot be said 
that they have to exercise any very great degree of self-denial. 
In the provision made for them., all is plain and simple, 
nothing superfluous or costly, but everything is provided 
that a man might reasonably expect. Comparative solitude 
and want of society, is felt by all the missionaries, and 
particularly by those of a lively disposition. Another painful 
trial of missionary faith is, the necessity under which they are 
placed, to send their children to Europe for education, and 
thus to part with them, perhaps never to see them again. 
They remain there permanently ; as the missionaries are not 
stationary, it is found neither advisable nor practicable to let 
the children return in order to establish them here. How- 
ever, there is no situation in life which has not its peculiar 
trials, and the missionaries who, as good soldiers of our Lord 
Jesus Christ are expected to endure hardness, should not be 
among the first to complain. "Whatever trials they have to 
endure in the present day, and in some countries they have 
still to contend with much that is unpleasant ; yet their trials 
are far exceeded by the sufierings and dangers through which 
men of the world will pass, for the sake of filthy lucre. If 



156 

those who profess religion, and are truly children of God, would 
value and covet the souls of their fellow-men as much as gold is 
valued and coveted by the children of this world, missionary 
enterprise would be attended with greater success. We must 
confess it to our shame and reproach, that they far surpass us 
in their perseverance, their self-denial and endurance, for no 
other but temporal and perishable objects. 

With regard to the maintenance of our missions, the en- 
gagement on the part of the church of the United Erethren 
is, to provide for all the necessities of her missionaries, but 
nothing more ; and on the part of the missionaries, it is ex- 
pected that they shall give themselves with entire devoted- 
ness to the cause of the Lord, renouncing all prospects of 
worldly riches and distinctions, placing all their talents and 
abilities at the disposal of the Lord and his church. Eesides 
an allowance for clothing -and other personal wants, which 
varies in different countries, and amounts in Jamaica to £28 
per annum for a missionary and his wife ; he receives no 
salary, but renders an account every year of all his other neces- 
sary expenses, which are charged to the mission fund. The 
less this amount is, the more satisfaction will the missionary 
feel ; and if by the labours of his hands, or by his .abilities in 
any other way, he should earn or procure ever so large a sum, 
he lays no claim to it. Missionaries, however talented and 
successful in the conversion of souls, even if they could, in ad- 
dition to this, support themselves and the whole mission in 
which they are engaged, would still remain on the same level 
as their less gifted brethren, and would gain no personal profit 
nor distinction by it. If pride should enter into their heart, 
and they should lift themselves up above others, their charac- 
ter and infiuence would be gone, their fall would be certain. 
The missionaries are always to remember, that they are not the 
servants of men, but the servants of the Lord ; for praise and 



157 

for reward, they have to look to him alone. When disabled 
by disease or old age, and obliged to return home, a pension, 
though barely sufficient to support them, is provided ; and the 
expenses for the education of their children are borne by the 
'^ Mission Diacony." 

Around the missionary stations, the members of the con- 
gregation generally live scattered within a circle of about ten 
miles diameter. Here and there are IMegro villages, built 
without any order or regularity ; the houses point in every 
direction, and form confused lines, every house being surround- 
ed by a garden for the growth of vegetables or of .the cotton 
tree, and generally shaded, or even hid, under the large foliage 
of the plantain. Those of smaller dimensions are eighteen 
feet by twelve, divided into two apartments, having no floor 
but the bare ground, and are plastered with mortar, and covered 
with thatch ; the generality are larger, containing three apart- 
ments, decently floored with boards and covered with shingles ; 
the rooms are generally well furnished, and kept clean and 
neat. Thirty, or even twenty years ago, there was no garden, 
and scarcely a fruit-tree to be seen, where the Fetish or Obeah 
was not exhibited, to deter thieves by superstitious fears from 
their depredations. This has entirely disappeared. 

"When looking at the habitations of the jN^egroes, we cannot 
resist the conclusion, that probably in no other part of the 
world does nature so richly provide man with the comforts of 
this life, if he only has sufficient knowledge and industry to 
possess himself of them. At his very door grow the sugar- 
cane and the coffee-tree, to provide for his breakfast. Yegeta- 
bles of various kinds, the yam, the cow, the plantain, the 
Indian corn, and the bread-fruit tree grow in abundance ; and 
together with these, .the poultry and pigs make provision for 
his dinner ; while the tobacco-plant furnishes the luxury of 
smoking, of which a Negro is very fond. In fact almost 



158 

every thing that man requires for his daily bread is found 
here. The cotton- tree grows luxuriantly, and might furnish 
the materials for clothing, so that nothing appears want- 
ing but skill and diligence to make the inhabitants indepen- 
dent and prosperous ; yet, after all, Jamaica is but a poor 
country, and imports largely even the common necessaries of 
life. There are various ways of accounting for this anomaly, 
such as frequent droughts, and other causes. The principal 
reason however appears to be, a want of knowledge to turn 
these advantages to account, and a lack of persevering indus- 
try. This becomes fully apparent where, as in the mountains 
here and there, English farmers have established themselves, 
side by side with the jS'egroes ; the former have abundance, 
and are growing rich, while the latter, with few exceptions, 
remain poor. 

The common dress of the Xegroes during the week is an 
Osnaburgh shirt and trowsers for the men ; and a gown of the 
same material, or common print, for the women. On Sunday 
they are better clothed, and the congregation makes a respec- 
table appearance. The young iS'egro girls are very fond of 
show ; and if they had the means, and were not restrained, 
would often dress extravagantly. The wearing of gold trin- 
kets and artificial flowers is not tolerated among us, or at least 
is reproved as vanity. At the marriage ceremony the bride 
appears in much state, richly clad, sometimes as well as 
any lady, with silk stockings, an embroidered robe, and costly 
veil. It would be impossible to recognize the same person a 
few days after in her common dress. "We take pains to dis- 
courage all extravagance on such occasions, as this proves a 
stumblingblock and a snare to many. Xot having the means to 
make a rich wedding, they often fall into the sin of concubinage. 

The services on the Sabbath-day are well attended ; our 
chapels contain from seven hundred to a thousand hearers, 



159 

and we are not accustomed to see empty seats. The bell rings 
at nine o'clock for the Sunday school, when from one to two 
hundred children assemble. At ten o'clock they have a meet- 
ing, in which they repeat the hymn and lesson they have 
learned, and are addressed by the minister, or sometimes by 
the teacher. At eleyen o'clock the public service begins with 
singing a hymn and praying the Church Litany, the whole con- 
gregation repeating the responses most devoutly ; when, after 
reading portions from the Old and ]N"ew Testaments, the ser- 
mon follows, and the conclusion is made with prayer. This 
service lasts generally about two hours. From one to two 
o'clock in the afternoon there is a meeting for the candidates 
or inquirers, likewise attended by the rest of the congregation. 
This is a meeting for instruction, in which a regular course of 
christian doctrine is gone through, or a portion of scripture 
explained. Frequently questions are put by the minister and 
answered by the congregation. At two o'clock the services of 
the day close with a meeting of the congregation, attended 
only by members, in which the minister, as addressing be- 
lievers, is expected to speak more to edification than to instruc- 
tion. The services on the Lord's-day are continued from nine 
to three o'clock ; and no one will be surprized if at the conclu- 
sion, the minister feels fatigued and exhausted. Such is the 
regular order of our Sabbath-day work ; but it is frequently 
varied as follows : Once in eight weeks, the holy communion 
is celebrated, and is generally attended by all the communi- 
cants. On this occasion the congregation appears dressed in 
white. Once likewise in eight weeks, holy baptism is admin- 
istered, and frequently a missionary prayer-meeting is held, 
when our native assistants are called upon to offer up prayer, 
and sometimes to address the congregation. It is to be re- 
gretted, that we are compelled to keep all these meetings in 
succession, without any longer interval than from fifteen to 



160 

twenty minutes ; but as the members of the congregation live 
so scattered, they could not be collected again on the Sabbath- 
day should they return to their homes. It is a rare case that 
any disturbance takes place on these occasions, when such 
crowds assemble ; order and silence reign, and the attention 
that is paid to the word is very pleasing. 

"When addressing a ISTegro congregation, we endeavour to 
remember the apostle's injunction, '^ Condescend to men of 
low estate," and to speak in a plain and simple style suited to 
their comprehension. Eigh sounding words would not be 
understood. Speaking to them is comparatively easy ; the 
minister feels himself free and unembarrassed ; there is no 
fear of being much criticised, or of giving offence ; he can 
safely discard all those apprehensions that frequently hinder 
the free vent of his feelings and the full flow of his words. 
In consequence, there is a liberty of speech, and sometimes an 
unadorned straightforwardness in the addresses delivered, 
which might not be tolerated in a more intellectual commu- 
nity. Eut if a missionary wishes not merely to beat the air, 
if he truly aims to be understood and to speak to the heart, he 
will find that it is more difficult to obtain this object than when 
addressing a more civilized congregation. His speech must 
be lively, and on a level with the comprehension of men 
of uncultivated, narrow minds, suited to their state and 
feeling, and this is no easy task. The JN'egroes use many com- 
parisons and similes in their conversation, and the missionary 
who has a talent for illustrating all he has to say, by comparing 
it with common objects and events, will succeed best. If I 
should be asked, what quality a missionary should possess pre- 
eminently, to labour with success and blessing ? I would 
unhesitatingly answer, ^^Love.'^ Love to the Saviour, who 
redeemed us ; and love to our fellow-men. "Whatever their de- 
gradation, however repulsive their manners, a missionary must 



161 

truly love them, if he would succeed in gaining their attention 
and affection. He must resemble the Saviour himself, who 
for thirty-three years lived among a crooked and perverse 
generation, and still loved them even unto death. "Without 
this fervent love, knowledge and abilities, however valuable 
in themselves, will never overcome and break through the 
barriers which close the heart of man against all that comes 
from God ; but love will gain an entrance, love will remove 
them. 

Various are the duties of the missionary during the week. 
He has generally to preach twice at the out-stations, he has 
to visit and examine the schools, attend to the sick, and make 
pastoral visits in the villages, calling upon the different fami- 
lies ; and once in eight weeks all the church members are ex- 
pected to visit the missionary at his house, and to converse with 
him on spiritual subjects. On three days of each week, during 
three successive weeks, the missionary remains at home, to 
receive these visits. His mfe, who, among the ^Moravians, 
is specially charged to be a missionary among her own sex, 
receives the visits of the females at the same time. The 
rule is, to converse with every one individually ; but as our 
congregations are so numerous, a class of from ten to twenty 
will occasionally come together at one time. ]y!uch tact and 
ability are required, if the missionary would succeed in setting- 
them all at ease, so as to induce them to converse freely. 
"While he becomes thereby personally acquainted with every 
member of his congregation, and has an opportunity of 
saying to each what he believes requisite, either in the way 
of reproof, warning, or encouragement ; he may learn much 
for his own improvement. In this way he becomes acquaint- 
ed with the character of the people, learns their mode of 
thought and expression ; and feels his own heart often cheered 
by their simple declarations of faith and love to the Saviour. 

L 



162 

Once in four weeks the native assistants, or helpers, assemble 
at conference, Trhen the minister receives information from 
them regarding the state of the congregation ; and they are 
advised and encouraged by him in their labours. These con- 
ferences are likewise courts of arbitration, in which disputes 
between church members are adjusted, or offenders spoken 
with and admonished. Those ^at h-ave been excluded, if 
they beg to be re- admitted, are likewise required to appear 
before this board, to confess their transgression and to pro- 
mise amendment. Minor offences and disputes are inquired 
into and settled by two or three of the helpers meeting in 
their district ; but of this the minister is always to be informed. 

Besides these various labours in the gospel, and the atten- 
tion the minister has to pay to all the external concerns of 
the mission station, he is often called upon for advice in diffi- 
culties of another kind. As there are but few medical men in 
the island, and their attendance is very expensive, the mission- 
ary will find that some knowledge of simple medicines is almost 
indispensable ; and he will do well, while preparing for the 
higher duties of his office, to direct his attention a little in 
that way. He that can administer advice and medicine to 
the sick, will gain their confidence, and have frequent oppor- 
tunities for speaking a word in season to lead the patient to 
Jesus the good physician. 

The missionaries being generally stationed at a considerable 
distance from each other, find it is cheering and enlivening 
to meet now and then in conference, when everything relat- 
ing to the mission is regulated by the same rule, and thus 
perfect unanimity is maintained throughout all our churches. 
These meetings give the brethren an opportunity to ex- 
change their thoughts, to communicate their experience, and 
strengthen one another's hands by their brotherly intercourse ; 
they stimulate the missionaries to cheerful and devoted ac- 



163 

tivifcy, and contribute, more than anything else, to preserve 
vitality in the mission. With the directing board of Elders in 
Germany, the brethren here correspond regularly. They are 
made fully acquainted with the state of the mission ; and 
their advice is asked, and their consent necessary, in every 
change or new undertaking. 

Besides these conferences, there are other official appoint- 
ments which it may be well to notice. In each station there 
are from ten to twenty brethren and sisters appointed to act 
as helpers : these form a board to assist in the government of 
the church. There are also several brethren and sisters who 
are appointed as chapel servants, whose duty is to keep the 
chapel clean, and to attend on the Sabbath and other days, 
to every office in the house of God that good order requires. 
Others are appointed as collectors of church contributions. 
Every member is expected to pay sixpence per month for 
the support of the gospel. These collectors receive the 
money, and give a ticket as receipt. In these various duties 
from forty to fifty members are employed, who receive no 
remuneration whatever. They are taught to regard their 
service as done unto the Lord, and willingly and cheerfully 
perform it, though it costs them both time and labour. They 
are honoured for the office they hold; but they are not 
unfrequently exposed to the ill- will and opposition of dis- 
orderly persons. Their official engagements require the exer- 
cise of much forbearance, humility, and meekness. As only 
the most faithful in the flock, who have the good- will of all, 
are chosen for any of these offices, they form a very respec- 
table body in the congregation, may be viewed as the right 
hand of the minister, and are of the most essential service 
to him. 

"With the missionaries of other churches the Moravian 
Brethren have always maintained the most friendly relations, 



164 

by 'an exchange of visits, by associating with them at Bible 
and Missionary Meetings, and by carefully abstaining from all 
interference in other men's labours. They gladly bear testi- 
mony to the faithfulness, ability, and success, with which 
many around them have laboured and are labouring in the 
gospel, and rejoice with them in their prosperity. 

Having given the history of the mission, and stated the 
various duties of the missionaries, and the form of our church 
government, the main question remains to be answered. 
"What estimate should we form of the success of the gospel, 
and of the moral and spiritual state of our congregations r^-' 
The answer must depend on the view which we take in form- 
ing our judgment. If we compare Jamaica as it is at present 
with what it was only twenty-five years ago, the change 
which the gospel has wrought is truly astonishing. It is not 
merely a political reformation. At that time darkness co- 
vered the laud ; the number of those who enquired after the 
Lord, and desired the knowledge of God, was indeed very 
small : the people lived without God in the world, his com- 
mandments were unknown, or wholly disregarded ; the sab- 
bath was no day of rest or of worship ; and as to all social 
relations, the mass of the people lived as the beasts of the 
field. How different is it now ! Every Sabbath-day wit- 
nesses crowds assembled in the house of God, decently, order- 
ly, and devoutly offering up hymns of praise and prayer, and 
listening to lessons from God's holy word ; while the children 
are under the daily instruction of faithful teachers. jSTow, 
when we go through the land, we find but few who in the 
face of day dare set at nought the commandments of God. 
Concubinage, which was then the sin and curse of the country, 

* I have stated this proposition in the plural ; because I believe my 
brethren are of the same opinion with me on these subjects. 



165 

though still persisted in by some of the Xegroes, and not a few 
of the whites, is an exception, and is looked upon with scorn 
and contempt ; the social relation»being well-ordered, and re- 
spected. Still more surprizing is the change which has taken 
place with regard to the intellect and character of the people. 
The low, stupid, and cunning slave has become a man, feeling 
the responsibility he is under as a subject and a christian; his' 
outward deportment and actions bear testimony to his al- 
tered position. Jamaica has become a christian country : 
supplied with the means of grace, the gospel has exercised its 
civilizing and elevating power, and will, it is hoped, con- 
tinue to do so. All this we may safely assert has been 
accomplished, though we do not deny that there are still 
many in a very degraded and ignorant state, and that even 
profligacy and crime are, in some parts, in the ascendant. 

Eut if the enquiry be made regarding the moral and spiritual 
state of our congregations, and not merely the improvement 
in morals, and regard for christian ordinances, though these 
may be viewed as some of the secondary effects of the gospel ; 
if we ask whether there have been many instances of that 
real change of heart called conversion, or the new birth ? 
John iii. 3, the answer will be somewhat different. The 
missionaries endeavour, with unwearied faithfulness, to fasten 
this truth upon the heart and mind of every one, that nothing 
short of a new creature in Christ Jesus availeth with God. 
Each convert on his application for church fellowship, is at 
once reminded that all religious observances, hearing the word 
of God and praying, are but the means to an end, and is ad- 
monished not to rest satisfied in them, until he has found 
peace for his soul by personal experience of the love of God 
in Christ Jesus. The members of the church are continually 
reminded of the same truth, and are called upon to beware, 
lest they build upon a wrong foundation, and to examine 



166 

themselves, whether this change has really taken place in 
them. There is, in consequence, a general acknowledgment 
of this truth felt and understood, and bringing a conviction 
of insufiiciency and sinfulness home to the conscience of 
many. This excludes boasting, does not allow a confident 
and heedless resting upon a name and form, and humbles 
man. It is a conviction which may be perceived in a marked 
manner in many ; but the number of those who go beyond 
this, who by a lively faith lay hold on the promises, and re- 
ceive power to become the children of God, is comparatively 
small. Still, in every congregatioia, we can point to a goodly 
number of whom we confidently believe that they are born 
again ; who give evidence by word and action, that they have 
truly experienced this saving change. But instead of speaking 
of our church members as christians who are truly converted, 
and let their light shine before men, we prefer describing them 
such as they are in truth- — the maimed, the halt, the blind, 
the lame, under the care of the Good Physician, giving signs 
of returning health and strength, according as they are in the 
different stages of the cure. Yet if we asserted that this is 
the general character of our members and candidates, we 
should still give too favourable a testimony. There are num- 
bers left in whom the evidences of an awakened conscience, 
and a hungering and thirsting after righteousness appear en- 
tirely wanting, even if there is nothing in their conduct to 
call for reproof or correction ; who, in spite of all they hear 
to the contrary, still cherish a belief in their own righteous- 
ness, and pride themselves upon their negative goodness, be- 
cause they have not committed this or that sin. There are 
numbers, who make a profession of religion without power ; 
many who join the church because others do so, and count it 
respectable. If we make our estimate according to the word 
of Godj forming our opinion by its authority, then indeed we 



167 

must confess, that tlie spiritual state of our churches is not as 
satisfactory as we could desire . On the other hand, if we 
compare our churches here with the state of religion in chris- 
tian lands, we may as confidently assert, that we have no 
cause to be discouraged, that the saving and heart-changing 
influences of the gospel have exercised their power as much 
here as there. And in this opinion we are still more confirm- 
ed when we consider what our congregations were formerly ; 
the darkness, the ignorance, the superstition, in which they 
grew up ; the habits of sin they acq uired, and the exceed- 
ingly loYi stats into v\'hich they were sunk. As beggars, 
they have been raised from the dunghill. 

Much as we may desire to see all men come to the Ihiow- 
ledge of the truth and be saved, the word of God holds out no 
prospect in the present dispensation, that we shall ever see 
congregations and churches all consisting of truly converted, 
spiritually-minded men. The true church will remain for the 
present invisible, until gathered out of all nations, tongues, 
and tribes ; but wherever the gospel is preached, there will 
be a little flock, a few that are chosen ; at the same time it is 
certain that even whole nations will, and do share, directly or 
indirectly, in the. blessed influence which the Vv^ord of God 
exercises. 

The moral state of our congregations may be taken as an evi- 
dence of their religious life. These two things cannot be sepa- 
rated; no people can be religious and immoral at the same time. 
N'evertheless, there is a consideration which should be taken 
into account in forming our judgment. Those who have been 
sunk in vice, and are much exposed to temptation, will find 
that their former lusts and evil inclinations remain their be- 
setting sins all their lifetime, however earnestly they desire to 
resist, and keep themselves unspotted. Times of forgetfulness 
and indifi'erence may come, when satan will take the advan- 



168 

tage, and they may be overtaken by sin if the Lord prevent 
not. There is, however, a difference between sinning wil- 
fully and being '' overtaken in a fault ;''' the one will lead to 
hardness of heart, the other may be followed by sincere 
repentance. When we take into account that our converts 
have been familiarized with sin, the slaves of lust, and are still 
exposed to the same temptations, favoured by many circum- 
stances, we are inclined to judge them rather in the spirit of 
charity. "We are not without instances of those who made a 
good profession and did run well, being again overtaken by 
sin, and falling back into their old ways. These characters 
either throw off all restraint, and give themselves up to pro- 
fligacy, or they are led thereby into deeper repentance, and 
sue earnestly for re-admission into the church. Among the 
young, immorality is too prevalent, and the marriage union 
not sufficiently respected. Let any one see how they are 
housed and dressed, and where and how they meet in their 
daily occupations, and he will cease to wonder that it is so, 
much as he may regret it. Notwithstanding all this, we are 
decidedly of opinion, that in this respect likewise, there is a 
great improvement, and that immoral practices are not so 
frequent and barefaced as they were ten or twenty years 
ago. Let any one compare the number of exclusions from 
church fellowship, as they are given every year in the '^ Peri- 
odical Accounts y^ published in London, with the number of 
our church members, and let him remember, that though we 
do not hear and know all that takes place, still, with the 
agency employed, we have every facility to ascertain the 
truth, and he will by no means form as unfavourable an es- 
timate of the morality of the people as might be supposed, 
after what has been stated above. 

"We are likewise decidedly of opinion, that the people are 
not retrograding in habits of industry, though they are not at 



169 

all equal to the white man in this respect, and probably never 
will be. However it is worthy of notice, that when visiting 
during the week in the jSTegro villages, we scarcely ever find 
them at home, but employed in their grounds and gardens ; 
and their well-arranged dwelling-houses and neatness in dress 
confirm our opinion of their industry. 

The statements of the planters, judging by what the news- 
papers say occasionally, and what we hear often expressed in 
conversation, are much at variance with those of the mission- 
aries. In their opinion, the bulk of the people become more 
and more brutalized ; and irreligion, immorality, and idleness 
are fast increasing. ]\Iany look with disgust and hopelessness 
upon the future destiny of Jamaica. This diff'erence of opi- 
nion is not difficult to explain. The industrious and intelli- 
gent among the people find it much more to their advantage 
to leave the estate, and cultivate their own land; and 
those that remain, or hire themselves out as day labourers, 
are too frequently the lowest class, whose idle and impro- 
vident habits prevent them from acquiring land of their 
own. The planters find it exceedingly difficult to procure 
hands for the cultivation of their estates ; and those whom 
they engage -do not give them satisfaction. The Jamaica 
planter labours at present under great difficulties, which would 
try the utmost patience of any man ; he sees his work neglect- 
ed, his property going to ruin, and is at the mercy and caprice 
of his labourers, who do just as much or as little as they 
please. That daily losses and vexations should irritate his 
temper, and sour his mind, is quite natural. Frequently, this 
state of things is produced by low and irregular wages. But 
even at the best, there is certainly a great want of labourers 
here, which quite disarranges the natural position of the em- 
ployer and the employed, the latter looking upon their services 
in the light of a favour bestowed, ^"e sympathize with the 



170 

planters in their difficulties, we sincerely regret the existing 
state of things, and should be glad to see the labour market 
iDetter supplied ; but we can have no sympathy with those 
who, while they rail at the people, contribute not a little to 
their ruin. We can entertain no regard for a man, thougli he 
may be the proprietor of a sugar estate, Avho calls the Negroes 
brutes, while he himself exhibits an example of immo- 
rality, lives in concubinage, keeps a rum-shop, and not only 
encourages drunkenness by the sale of spirituous liquors, 
but likewise, by paying his labourers their wages partly in 
rum, contributes, as much as he can, to their present and ever- 
lasting rain. If a man thus '^ sows the wind," can it be other- 
wise but that he shall ^' reap the whirlwind ?'' His labourers 
may well, under the influence of such an example, be a most 
abandoned set of men. 

There are two evils which prove a source of continual 
grief and vexation to the faithful missionary, and which con- 
tribute more than anything else to promote every vice and 
wickedness. The one consists in the sale of rum and other 
spirituous liquors ; and the other is an ungodly ministry. The 
ISTegro race have never been accused of being addicted to drun- 
kenness ; they were formerly spoken of as a sober people ; 
but since emancipation, that vice has greatly increased, and is 
increasing. The number of shops set up by unprincipled per- 
sons has multiplied, and what is still more provoking, they are 
always to be found in the immediate neighbourhood of the 
churches, where a large population resides. These places 
are the resort of all the idle and drunken ; and as, at the same 
time, salt provisions, flour, and other articles of daily request, 
are to be had there, many who are in consequence compelled 
to enter them, meet bad company, are tempted to take strong 
drink, and thus ensnared into sin. In the same places, worldly 
amusements, cock-fightiDg, music and dancing, tempt the 



171 

Toimg and thoughtless, and become the immediate canse of their. 
fall, if not finally of their ruin. ^Wliile sve are building up, 
they destroy ; while we teach, beseech, and warn, they under- 
mine and uproot every good word and work. They are the ruin, 
the curse of the hmd ; and we are surprised that those who 
ought to be the guardians of propriety and good order, cannot 
perceive that by these means they promote idleness, destroy 
morality, uproot virtue and religion, and fill the prisons. The 
other evil is, as already noticed, an ungodly ministry, which 
upholds the form, while it denies the power of religion, thus 
obliterating the distinction between the world and the church, 
and practically denying the necessity of a change of heart, 
their conduct deceives the ignorant, and is productive of 
much evil. In the neighbourhood of such churches, and of 
such a ministry, the exercise of church discipline becomes 
very difficult. Oflenders, who by wholesome reproof, might 
be led to repentance, will not endure it ; they are readily 
received by these ministers as members of their churches, sit 
down with them at the table of the Lord, and are thereby 
deceived so as to think themselves very good christians. 
This mode of proceeding tends to strengthen the habits of, 
«in : by such a course the truth is denied, the faithful grieved, 
the weak and ignorant confounded, and the careless, luke- 
warm, and self-righteous confirmed in their evil ways. Over 
such a state of things not only the missionary, but every man 
of sound judgment, must mourn; even men of the world, 
when they see that their interests suffer in consec_Luence, will 
view it as a subject of just complaint. 

When we look into the future, we cannot but fear that, of 
the large number who hare joined our church, many may be 
drawn aside by these infiuences, to reject not only the disci- 
pline of the church, but also the light and easy yoke of the 
Master himself To be warned and reproved is, for the sincere 



172 

not grievous ; but those who are not upright in heart, will 
turn away from the most loving admonition. On the other 
hand we may hope, that by the ministry of the gospel, and by 
the instruction of the young, our congregations may become 
more enlightened, more intelligent, and, let us hope, more 
grounded and settled in the truth. 

One hundred years have now elapsed since the first Mora- 
vian missionary landed in Jamaica; and from that time 
until the present, through evil report and good report, our 
Missionary Brethren have continued to labour, to break up 
the fallow ground, and sow the seed of the word in faith, 
and hope, and love, trusting in him who has promised : '^ My 
word shall not return void, but it shall accomplish that which 
I please, and prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.'' 

If by the instrumentality of the Bretl\ren, souls have been 
saved, — if poor wretched slaves have been taught and brought 
by them into saving acquaintance with a Friend above, in 
whom they could trust, and upon whom they could cast all 
their burdens : if liberated ]N"egroes have been taught the im- 
portant truth, that ^^ he onlij is free whom the Son makes free ;'' 
» and have heard and believed the blessed gospel of the forgive- 
ness of sins through the blood shedding and death of Jesus ; 
and, being redeemed from all iniquity, have become zealous of 
good works, walking in a manner worthy of their high call- 
ing : if, as we are persuaded, this has been effected by the 
labours of our Missionary Brethren, — unto Him who enabled 
us, to Him whose blessing followed, to Him the Head and 
Master of his church, — the Saviour of sinners, we ascribe the 
honour : to Him he all the praise P^ We are but unprofitable 
servants, — weak and feeble instruments ; if we succeed and 
prosper, it is through Jesiis Christ our Lord,. 

May the blessing of God our Saviour continue to rest upon 
•the Mission, and be shared by all the inhabitants of this land ! 



CONTENTS. 



INTKODUCTION. 

Title. Moravians in Jamaica, page 1. Preface, 3. Introduction, 5. 
Arrival of the Author in Jamaica, 5. Description of the Town of Black 
River, 5. Common Errors, 7. Eeligious and Moral State of the Is- 
land, 9. Remarks on the Country, 10, Climate, 11. Fevers, 12. 
Improved state of Health, 13. Table of Missionary Mortality, 14. 
Diseases among the Negroes, 15. Increase of Population, 15. Patron- 
age of the Proprietors of Estates, 10. Slavery, 19. An affecting 
Anecdote in the History of Slavery, 21. The establishment at Old 
Carmel broken up and the Slaves liberated, 22. 

CHAPTER I. 

Arrival of the first Missionaries, page 24. The Eirst Mission Station, 
25. Missionary Labours, 26. Success, 27. Br. Caries — Extract from 
his Diary, 28, Negro Superstitions, 30. Baptism, 31. Negro Perse- 
verance and strength of Faith, 31. Difficulties in the way, 32. Arri- 
val of more Missionaries, 34. Difference of opinion concerning Bap- 
tism, 34. Its influence upon the Mission, 35. Revival, 36. Old 
Carmel, 37. Labours of the Missionaries at Old Carmel, 37. Ex- 
tracts from the Mission Diary, 40. Conferences, 51. Visitation of 
Br. Mack, 42. Marriage Regulations, 43. 

CHAPTER 11. 

Br. Lang — his Lamentation en the state of the Mission, page 46. 
Awakening, 47. George Lewis, 49. Conversion of Robert Peart, 50. 
Robert Peart before the Magistrates, 53. Br. Lang's Conversations 

with the Negroes, 53. Correspondence mth Mr. H ., 54. Br. Lang 

at Peru, 58. A blessed Day at Old Carmel, 59. Spread of the Gospel 



^ 174 

in the Mile-Gully Mountains, 61. A Scene at a Negro Meeting, 62. 
Wholesale Baptism, 63. Visit of the Gustos of St. Elizabeth Parish to 
Old Carmel, (14. Accusation against the Missionaries, 64. Establish- 
ment of New Eden, 65. An open door for preaching the Gospel on 
various Estates, 66. Nassau, 66. Mesopotamia, 66. Br. Light at 
Montego Bay, 67. 

CHAPTER III. 

Sale of Old Carmel, page 69. Establishment of Eairfield, 70. Spread 
of the Gospel, 70. Missionary work engaged in and encouraged by 
the Planters, 70. Difficulties in the way, 71. Good Security, 72.. 
The pious Planter of Hopeton, 72. Labours at Eairfield, 73. Open- 
ing of the Chapel at Eairfield, 74. Mr. T., a pious Planter, 74. Death 
of two Missionaries and their Wives, 75. New Eden, 75. Mesopo- 
tamia and Irwin, 76. Hopeton, 76. Br. Zorn at Springvale, 77. 
Proposals for Settlements, 77. Plan of Proceedings, 78. Native As- 
sistants, 79. The Assistants William Hall and Edward Hunt, 79. Es- 
tablishment of Schools, 80. Sketch of Negro Energy, 82, Interesting 
Eeport, 83. 

CBLAPTER lY. 

Eebellion of the Slaves, page 84. Charges against the Missionaries, 
85. Eefutation, 86. Instances of Faithfulness on the part of the Con- 
verts, 86. Arrest of ^r. Pfeiffer, 88. Report of Br. Ellis, 88. Br. 
Pfeiffer's Case, 90. A remarkable Incident, 91. Statement of Br. 
Ellis, 93. ^False Witnesses, 94. Defence of Br. Pfeiffer, read by the 
Judge Advocate, and Yerdict, " Not Guilty," 96. Br. Pfeiffer's Pieport 
of the Celebration of Easter after the Eebellion, 96. Consequences 
of the Eebellion upon the Congregations, 98. Continuance of False 
Accusations, 99. Eemonstrance of the Missionaries, 100. Eemarks 
of the Editor of the Periodical Accounts, 108. Address of the Mis- 
sionaries to the Earl of Belmore, 110. His Excellency's Eeply, 111,, 
Influence of the Eebellion upon the Mission, 112. The Eemale Ee- 
fuge School, 112. Loss of a Child, 113. Apprenticeship, 114. Eeport 
of Br. Zorn on the State of the Mission, 115. Spread of the Gospel. 
116. Character of the Negroes at the time of Apprenticeship, 117. 
State of the Church, 119. Marriages legahzed, 120. Statistics, 121. 



175* 
CHAPTEE y. 

Emancipation of the Slaves, page 122. Character of the Negroes 
at the time of Emancipation, 124, Establishment of Maidstone, 130. 
Bethabara, 131. Debt on the Mission, and its Liquidation, 132. 
Establishment of Schools, 132. The Normal School, 133. Help for the 
School from Taylor's Charity, 134. Mission to Guinea, 136. Super- 
stitions of Obeahism and Myalism, 138. Decease of four Missionaries, 

142. Visitation of the Mission by the Brethren Herman and Mallalieu 

143. New arrangement of the Mission, 143. Deputation to the Mos- 
quitia, 144. The Cholera, 144. Present Social Condition of Jamaica, 
146. Contributions of the People in aid of the Missions, 148. Attempt 
to establish Diacony Stores, 149. Successful Establishment of Out- 
station Schools, 150. Encouraging State of the Mission, 152. Tabu- 
lar statement of the latest returns of the congregations, 152. 

CHAPTER YI. 

Mission stations, page 1 54. Difficulties and Emoluments of the Mora- 
vian Missionaries, 156. Position of the congregations, 157. Means for 
the supply of the necessaries and comforts of life, 157. Extravagant 
fondness for dress, 158. Sabbath day's labour of the Missionaries, and 
attendance of the people, 158. Best mode of addressing the congre- 
gation, 160. Week-day duties, 1G.1 . Services of the Native Assistants, 
162. Advantage of medicinal knowledge, 162. Conference Meetings, 
162. Official duties of Helpers, 163. Eelation towards Mission- 
aries of other churches, 163. Spiritual and moral state of the 
church, 164 — 168. Opinion of the planters, 169. Obstacles to the 
free course of the word, 170, 171. Conclusion, 172. 



EEEATA. 



Page 11, line 18, for 1792, read 1692. 

Page 14, line 9, for two were drowned, read one was drowned. 

* 14, for one served 13 years, read two served 13 years. 

Page 15, line 13, for Cosobay, read Cocobay. 

Page 22, line 5, for purchased, read received a grant. 






■jsr^-'-r 



BOUiVn BY 



Webb, Mill 



ingtoii & Co., 



OTI.EY. 



